Malaysiakini compares the key news and views in major newspapers. What is today's agenda for the English, Bahasa, Tamil and Chinese papers? Find out here.

Frontpage

English Newspapers

Yesterday's session of the high profile murder trial was highlighted by the English dailies.

New Straits Times reported private eye P Balasubramaniam as saying that political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda had never asked him to kill Altantuya.

The Star led with the report that Shaariibuu Setev testified that his daughter came to Malaysia twice to see the political analyst.

Malay Newspapers

Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia both highlighted Shaariibuu Setev as saying that Altantuya had two children even though she was never married.

Berita Harian also reported that the operations of 19 agencies which provide foreign household maids were suspended after the Home Affairs Ministry received complaints on various issues such as violation of permit conditions, lying and placing workers in other employers' homes without permission.

Chinese Newspapers

Nanyang Siang Pau reported on the Altantuya murder case trial, where the first witness said Abdul Razak Baginda did not ask him to murder Altantuya.

Oriental Daily reported the Home Affairs Ministry has terminated 19 domestic maid agency's license, after received several complaints from the public.

Sin Chew Daily interviewed the Johor Police Chief who announced that four steps will be taken to tackle high criminal rates in the state, including to "make the police officers and patrol cars be seen all over the place".

Tamil Newspapers

Makkal Osai headlined a report on four Indian men who were sentenced to death by the Seremban High Court for murdering a man in 2002.

The daily also reported Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's assurance that the government will find ways to control criminal activities on Malaysia-Thailand border.

Editorial

New Straits Times commented that the mere five percent of R&D projects carried out under the 7th and 8th Malaysia Plans suggested that local universities have a problem in developing commercially viable products and processes. The editorial also opined that Malaysia was also lacking in intellectual property protection.

Berita Harian opined that Volkswagen's expertise was needed to help Proton's recovery and urged for the "we can't cooperate with foreign company" thinking based on national sentiments to be set aside.

Nanyang Siang Pau commented that employers should not abuse their domestic maids but use the right way to solve maid's problems.

Oriental Daily urged the authorities to tighten the audit system in order to rebuild the share market's confidence.

Sin Chew Daily opined that the best way to reduce maids problems in this country was by not relying too much on them.

Makkal Osai opined that Asean countries should work together to control forest fires that often occur in Sumatra and Borneo.