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

Front Page

English newspapers

The Sun

and New Straits Times highlighted Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's assurance to the Muslim community on the status of Islam as the religion of the federation.

The Sun also focused on the worsening air quality state in several areas of the peninsula, caused by more than 60 hotspots in neighbouring Sumatra, Indonesia.

The seizure of RM30 million worth of luxury cars and the busting of three car theft syndicates led the news in The Star .

Malay newspapers

Sinar Harian

front-paged PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's plea to political opponents to stop tarnishing her husband and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's image with dirty tactics and slander, such as the recent circulation of a video tape of a couple having sex, in which the man is alleged to be Anwar.

Berita Harian

highlighted the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry's bust of a syndicate repackaging expired food products and the arrest of two foreign nationals who distributed these in the suburbans areas of Gombak, Selangor.

Utusan Malaysia led with Umno's 65th anniversary celebration and Najib's assurance that the position of Islam as the religion of the federation cannot be questioned.

Chinese newspapers

Oriental Daily News headlined Najib's meeting with Islamic leaders yesterday, to assure them that Islam remains as Malaysia's official religion.

Nanyang Siang Pau highlighted the government's move to stop subsidising diesel for deep sea fishing boats and lorries that transport non-food items from June.

China Press also led the with bust on the centre in Gombak that recycled expired food items.

Sin Chew Daily

front-paged the apology of a schoolgirl who bullied her classmate and her promise to repent.

Editorial

New Straits Times

discussed the 60 percent rise in sugar price since last year and said the 85sen increase was in line with the government's move to reduce subsidies, which have resulted in savings of RM1 billion.

Berita Harian

expressed support for the expansion of Bahasa Melayu in the international arena to promote wider usage of the country's national language.

Utusan Malaysia urged the Home Ministry to screen African nationals in the country on student visas, as a number of them have been linked to cases of drugs trafficking.

Sin Chew Daily discussed the fluctuation in international exchange rates, which it expects will have a great impact on the drafting of national budget.

China Press condemned syndicates that recycle expired food products as this endangered public health.

Nanyang Siang Pau

urged the Chinese community not to ignore the national Economic Transformation Programme.