Malaysiakini compares the key news and views in major newspapers. What is today's agenda for the English, Bahasa and Chinese paper?

Frontpage

English newspapers

The Star reported that Air Asia X is expected to start its first flight between Kuala Lumpur and an Australian east-coast city in early September and its promotional one-way fare is at RM9.90.

The New Straits Times highlighted Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz's warning against bloggers who belittle Islam or the King. He told the Dewan Negara that three laws could be used against such bloggers namely, the Internal Security Act, Sedition Act and Section 121(b) under the Penal Code.

Malay newspapers

Berita Harian highlighted Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's warning to bloggers that the government would not hesitate to take legal action on those who stir up race or religious matters .

Utusan Malaysia headlined the deaths of 11 people, including nine Burmese who were killed in an accident along the East Coast Expressway. The MPV that they were in crashed into a trailer at around 4.30am.

Chinese Newspapers

Both Sin Chew Daily and Oriental Daily frontpaged the government declaring war against bloggers who publish false information or subversive and sensitive articles.

Nanyang Siang Pau reported market observers as saying that two Chinese-controlled local banks could survive in the second round of banking mergers.

Tamil newspapers

Malaysia Nanban led with MIC president S Samy Vellu's statement that the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) will not be giving out loans this year. Samy Vellu, who is also the chairman of MIED said the decision was made following its failure to collect RM5.3 million from students who have benefitted from the loan in the past.

Makkal Osai and Tamil Nesan headlined an accident in Temerloh, Pahang that killed 11 and injured two others. Nine of the dead were Burmese nationals.

Editorial

The New Straits Times applauded some government-linked companies' (GLC) move to be involved in the Pintar programme that aims to narrow the education divide between the rich and the poor in the country.

Berita Harian urged Bank Negara to simplify loans so that banks and the public would be protected from slow loans and debts.

Nanyang Siang Pau said the government should improve the legal framework in regulating the operations of credit information providers to protect consumer rights.

Sin Chew Daily attributed the inefficiency in the government sector to red tape and the civil servants' undisciplined attitude.

Malaysia Nanban urged Indian parents to send their children to Tamil schools. The daily feels that Tamil education is the only way to preserve the Indian culture.

Makkal Osai called for the public to actively participate in the government's blood donation drive.

Tamil Nesan welcomed MIED chairman S Samy Vellu's move to take legal action against some 5,500 students who have failed to pay back the loan they have obtained from MIED.