Malaysiakini compares the key news and views in major newspapers. What is today’s agenda for the newspapers?

Front Page

English newspapers

New Straits Times led with news that the floods that have swept through Perlis and Kedah are highly likely to hit Terenggganu, with downpours of 1,000mm expected.

Star , which yesterday front-paged former PKR Federal Territories chief Zaid Ibrahim’s intention to quit the party, continues to shine the spotlight on the opposition party.

It reported that PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution has accused Zaid of trying to control an unnamed newly-formed party by proxy, even before announcing his intention to contest for deputy president in the PKR polls.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia front-paged that prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin has ticked off opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, by reminding him that like Zaid, he too was labelled a troublemaker and Trojan horse when he was in Umno.

Berita Harian warns of floods in states on the East Coast, as well as in Sabah, Sarawak and Johor.

Sinar Harian led with Saifuddin’s statement that PKR will accept Zaid’s decision to leave and wishes him the best in his future endeavours.

Chinese newspapers

Oriental Daily News front-paged that Zaid Ibrahim had quit PKR and will hold a press conference to announce his next move this Friday.

Sin Chew Daily reported that a Malay housing developer, Kotasas, has donated an eight acre piece of land for the purpose of building or relocating a Chinese primary school in its 1,500 acre development project in Kuantan.

Nanyang Siang Pau highlighted that Malaysia can withstand the impact of ‘hot money’ due to the strong economic foundations, low inflation rate, sustainability and strong growth of the ringgit, said Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin.

Editorial

New Straits Times bemoaned the abuse of position of two Negri Sembilan Road Transport Department officers and three others, who allegedly solicited RM660,000 ostensibly to fund the department’s social function.

It said that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will not be effective in curbing graft if it is not firm in dealing with breaches such as this.  

Berita Harian

said that the Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim should respond to allegations that Yayasan Selangor had in fact spent up to RM800,000, and not RM300,000 as reported, for its anniversary celebrations.

This, it added, is to the detriment of the urban poor and underprivileged rural folk which the foundation is meant to assist.

Echoing this, Utusan claims that the mismanagement in the Selangor administration is becoming more obvious following allegations of graft in Yayasan Selangor and Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS).  

Nanyang Siang Pau called on Pakatan Rakyat to solve its internal conflict caused by Zaid Ibrahim’s threat to quit PKR soon, to compete with BN to form a strong two-party system in the future.

Sin Chew Daily urged that the head of the state of Myanmar, Senior General Than Shwe, should resign and that National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi should participate in the general election, as this will let the people of Burma elect leaders with democratic characteristics.