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 Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s meeting with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Canberra, Australia yesterday.

It was reported that during the one-hour meeting, both parties discussed issues ranging from transnational crimes, sports and economic cooperation, as well as proposals for a sister school programme.

Star front-paged the Kelantan government’s decision to extend its ban on gambling in the Pas-led state. Chinese community leaders have reacted strongly, saying the action was tantamount to infringing on the rights of non-Muslim in the state.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia

highlighted Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement that the government has agreed to take back some 13,000 untrained teachers who were terminated recently, and they will be placed in areas needed throughout the country.

Berita Harian headlined Najib’s meeting with Gillard and their agreement to combat human trafficking, terrorism and international crime between the two countries.

Sinar Harian front-paged Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim urging the attorney-general to investigate Kuang assemblyperson Abdul Shukor Idrus for allegedly owning and distributing the Selangor Terkini newsletter illegally.

Chinese newspapers

China Press headlined the Seberang Perai Tengah Religious Department chief annulling the conversion to Islam of a 16-year-old runaway girl, and apologising to her family.

Nanyang Siang Pau front-paged that Bursa Malaysia has censured eight board members of Kenmark for breaking rules, and has fined three of them a total of RM25 million.

Sin Chew Daily headlined that SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Long will be closed for a week after a Form Four student died of H1N1.

Oriental Daily News spotlighted Muammar Gaddafi’s warning to western countries not to get involved in Libya’s internal affairs, or else they will suffer much more than in Vietnam and the Iraq war.

Editorial

New Straits Times commented on the increase in the international oil price following the Middle East crisis. Currently, the price of oil has breached US$100 per barrel.

Berita Harian commented that the Australia-Malaysia relationship looks brighter and closer following Najib and Gillard’s official meeting in Canberra, Australia yesterday.

Sin Chew Daily commented that Petronas shoulders a mission to develop Malaysia, hence it should be prepared to face the oil price instability in the face of Middle East countries going through turbulence.

Nanyang Siang Pau

urged the government to treat its talented citizen well to prevent an outflow of human resources.

China Press urged the Health Ministry to be prepared in battling a possible H1N1 epidemic. It also asked people to take care of their personal hygiene to prevent them from falling sick.