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

Front Page

English newspapers

The New Straits Times and The Star front-paged the government's decision to bar ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries from holding any positions in sports association.

Malay newspapers

Berita Harian headlined the cabinet's directive to all minister and deputies to quit from their positions in sports bodies.

Utusan Malaysia led with the government's rejection of petrol dealers' association's suggestion to restrict petrol sales from 7am to 10am. The suggestion is viewed as not only a burden to the consumers but also to the country's economic development.

Chinese newspapers

Sin Chew Daily headlined the statement of MCA President Ong Ka Ting where social contract written in Federal Constitution shouldn't be easily amended by any party, but should be defended by everyone.

Nanyang Siang Pau frontpaged the decision of the Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia that all petrol stations would shorten their operation hours to 7am to 10pm daily.

Oriental Daily reported Shah Alam High Court's decision that Klang Hokkien Association election was invalid.

Tamil newspapers

Makkal Osai today named the senior minister's son who was questioned for more than five hours in Sentul police station in connection with local actress K Sujatha's mysterious death. This was the first time the politician's son has been named in any media in connection with the case.

On the other hand, Malaysia Nanban carried a a smilar report but did not name the person who was questioned by the police in connection with Sujatha's death.

Tamil Nesan did not publish the story on the Sujatha's death probe at all. Instead the daily led with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's directive to all ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries to quit from their positions in sports associations.

Editorial

The New Straits Times felt that Malaysian Petrol Dealers' Association's suggestion to restrict sales from 7am to 10pm was unfair to consumers and also smaller competitors in the field.

Berita Harian believed that Abdullah had his own reasons for barring ministers and deputies from holding any positions in sports association. The daily felt that the directive intended to ease the burden of cabinet ministers and their deputies and to give them the room to focus fully in their ministerial works.

Utusan Malaysia called for farmer in the states involved in NCER not to dream of becoming millionaires by selling their land to the developers, but to use the opportunities provided by the government to develop their land.

Malaysia Nanban urged parents, teachers and Education Ministry officials to work together in finding solutions to control discipline problems among students.

Tamil Nesan called for Penangites to use opportunities provided Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).

Nanyang Siang Pau opined that Penang would enjoy rapid development under the Northern Corridor Economic Region.

Sin Chew Daily said United States House of Representatives' resolution on 'comfort woman' would give pressure to Japanese Government.

Oriental Daily applauded the cabinet decision for politicians not to hold any position in sport associations.