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 a story on a remote school in Sarawak, SK Ulu Lubai, which has been designated as one of the highest performance schools nationwide. The school is located in an area which is a two-hour drive on a logging road followed by a 50-minute boat ride from Limbang.

Star front-paged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak stating that if the economy’s good performance continues for the next 10 years, Malaysia would be on track to achieving developed-nation status.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia highlighted a local bank suffering losses of RM19 million from a loan to two phony companies that supposedly wanted to supply MiG-29N plane parts to the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Berita Harian front-paged the reduction of toll from RM1.60 to RM1 at the Petaling Jaya Selatan 2 toll plaza (PJS2) of the New Pantai Expressway near Taman Medan, which started at midnight yesterday. It was reported that some 41,000 residents in the area were overjoyed at the reduction of toll.

Sinar Harian

headlined former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad agreeing with the proposed period of eight years for a prime minister to serve the country. He was quoted as saying that if the powers of parliament were limited, it would not allow a leader to perform his tasks efficiently and he would fail to implement what was planned.

Chinese newspapers

Oriental Daily News front-paged the rise in the rate of suicides. Befrienders KL claimed to have received 20,000 calls for help annually, with 20 percent of them having an intention to commit suicide.

China Press followed-up on the issue of a four-year-old girl being “abducted” by her nanny, with both parent denying they took drugs, and the nanny being granted interim custody by a magistrate’s court and the welfare department.

Nanyang Siang Pau focused on the country’s economic growth being unlikely to achieve double digit figures.

Sin Chew Daily

led with International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed’s claim that the bumiputera equity had managed to achieve 22 percent after 40 years of the New Economy Policy.

Editorial

New Straits Times

commented on stiffer penalties for errant road users, given the dangerous nature of Malaysian roads, which would help decrease the high numbers of road deaths and injuries.

Berita Harian said that the traffic police needs to enhance their delivery and the method of payment for notices of summonses to the public, because effective from next month, traffic offenders are given the flexibility to settle the matter utilising a new compound rate.

Sin Chew Daily commented on the recent announcement by the cabinet to reduce the traffic fines for offenders who make early payment.

China Press encouraged the public to be an early bird in clearing traffic summonses, as the amount of fine would be reduced from RM100 to RM40.

Nanyang Siang Pau called for a better Malaysia which stresses on unity and gives priority to elimination of discord.