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 the announcement that an RMAF Hercules C-130 aircraft would land in Tripoli, Libya, after getting the green light to pick up Malaysians stranded there.

Star front-paged that escalating tension in the Arab world has led to oil prices going up, sparking international fears that the costs will be passed down to the people. Crude oil prices hovered around US$101 per barrel yesterday.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia highlighted Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin wanting the police to get tough on the Hindraf issue. Muhyiddin said the police have to impose stricter measures on the leaders of Hindraf as the movement was banned by the government.

Berita Harian

led with ‘Ops Helang’ by the RMAF, which started at midnight last night, and managed to rescue 190 Malaysians stranded in Libya.

Sinar Harian highlighted Pahang PAS information chief Hassanuddin Salim being given a second chance to contest the Kerdau by-election against BN candidate Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad. The announcement also ended speculation that Pahang PAS chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man would be nominated as the candidate.

Chinese newspapers

Sin Chew Daily front-paged that around 10 victims’ bank deposits has allegedly been stolen by a bank staff member after they entrusted him to process their home equipment loans. The bank staff member, who allegedly stole RM1 million, has been arrested.

Nanyang Siang Pau headlined that in a move to reform the subsidy system, the government is decreasing the subsidies of fuel, highway toll and commercial vehicles, and at the same time, increasing the subsidy of petrol and diesel in the retail market, as well as maintaining the price of RON95.

China Press front-paged a story on the Singaporean ex-wife of the love-rat who was said to have cheated four women, recounting her experiences during their one-year-marriage.

Oriental Daily News headlined that the international oil price oil reached US$100 per barrel in the afternoon yesterday, and stock markets in the region suffered a drop.

Editorial

New Straits Times commented on ‘shisha’ smoking as it was reported to be a hazardous pleasure because, similarly to cigarettes, it is tobacco based. A clinic in the United States had declared that shisha smoking could be more dangerous than cigarettes because it exposes smokers to a greater volume of toxins. While in Malaysia, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called for its banishment from certain premises.

Berita Harian commented that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s official visit to Turkey this week was a wise step, seeing that the country is developing rapidly. Apart from that, in terms of geographic location, Turkey borders Asia and Europe and the country is recognised for its abilities in various fields, particularly economic, diplomatic and military.

China Press urged the government to lower the toll charges or decrease the frequency of raising them, while at the same time providing the drivers with good quality traffic facilities.

Nanyang Siang Pau stated that the Home Ministry had speeded up the processing of applications for citizenship to ensure the applicant could enjoy the same rights as other Malaysians.

Sin Chew Daily criticised the campus authorities over their handling of campus polls which had led to dissatisfaction among students as well as various other problems.