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 hike of oil prices that breached the US$100 mark yesterday due to growing concern on the instability across Middle East and North Africa. Adding to the tension was the news that US had sent two warships to Libya.

Star front-paged that Malaysian motorists spend RM150 million every year to bid for the number plates of their choice. The bidder who bought the number plate MCA 1 two months ago, also spent RM101,000 to acquire MCA 2.

Malay newspapers

Both Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian dedicated their front pages to the announcement by the Home Ministry that the grace period to enjoy 50 percent discount on traffic summons, will be extended to March 10.

Sinar Harian highlighted the statement by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim that he has no grudge against Umno members but only the individuals who are corrupted.

Chinese newspapers

Oriental Daily News headlined that 80 percent of the 12 million-strong public servants in our country are in debt. According to the department of insolvency, 1,086 public servants were declared bankrupt in 2009 and 72.24 percent of them were male.

China Press focused on the extension of traffic summons discount grace period to March 10.

Sin Chew front-paged that US warships and fighter planes had been deployed to positions closer to Libya. However US President Barrack Obama has yet to decide whether the US will go to war with Libya.

Nanyang Siang Pau reported that national oil and gas company Petronas might not pay higher dividends to the government due to increasing capital expenditure, despite the global petrol price having risen to US$100.

Editorial

New Straits Times commented that while the international community is ramping up the pressure, including possible military intervention to force Libya leader Muammar Gaddafi to relinquish his power, they must respect the Libyan people who reject foreign intervention.

Utusan Malaysia slammed the Selangor Pakatan state government for belittling the Selangor Sultan's power in the issue of appointing the new chancellor for Universiti Selangor.

Berita Harian urged the government to take stern action against the opposition who politicise defence issues including Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, who alleged that the Defence Ministry had paid excessively in purchases for the military.

Nanyang Siang Pau said that the visit of the HNA Group of China to Tunku Abdul Rahman College to recruit students showed the excellence of the college.

Sin Chew Daily discussed problems regarding waste recycling in Malaysia, and the efforts by the government to address it.

China Press urged teachers not to absent themselves in English certificate courses set up by the Education Ministry. It also called on the ministry to find out why teachers were absenting themselves, and try to solve their issues.