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

Front Page

English newspapers

New Straits Times led with the flood havoc that left 12 dead, 20,000 evacuated. The situation in Pahang, Johor and Kelantan appear to be worsening.

The Star front-paged news of former chief judge Haidar Mohd Noor chairing the royal commission of inquiry into the Lingam tapes. Other members of the commission are former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim, former Court of Appeal judge Mahadev Shankar, former solicitor-general Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh and historian and Suhakam commissioner Khoo Kay Kim. Director general of the prime minister’s department legal affairs division Abdullah Sani, will serve as the panel’s secretary.

The Sun also led with the royal commission, its five terms of reference and the three months given to it to investigate a controversial videotape of a conversation to fix the appointment of certain judges.

Malay newspapers

Both Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian front-paged the royal commission of inquiry and the worsening floods that affected six states.

Utusan Malaysia also briefly reported Mat Sabu’s charge of obstructing police officers, Hindraf leaders’ stay order application struck out and PKR national integration chief N Gobalakrishnan charged for breaking two gates in Batu Caves.

Berita Harian also led with a photograph of floods affecting the East Coast Expressway near the Lanchang toll.

Tamil newspapers

Makkal Osai led with a report that 48-Indian based organisations, led by the Malaysian Hindu Sangam, will be sending their proposals to the prime minister on how to handle the ‘Indian problem’ in this country.

Tamil Nesan led with the new royal commission formed by the prime minister yesterday on the Lingam tape.

Chinese newspapers

Nanyang Siang Pau frontpaged the setting up of the five-member royal commission to investigate the Lingam tape.

Sin Chew Daily led with the news that floods in Johor, Pahang and Kelantan continue to worsen. The total number of victims had surpassed 50,000.

Editorial

New Straits Times urged the closing of the Jelapang toll after Tuesday’s accident that claimed eight lives.

The Sun lauded new chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad’s acknowledgment of the problems in the judiciary and urged the Bar Council to work with him to fix the issues.

Utusan Malaysia expressed confidence towards the royal commissioners’ capabilities and urged people to give full cooperation to this royal commission of inquiry.

Berita Harian expressed relief at Samy Vellu’s announcement that the South Ipoh and Jelapang tolls on the North-South highway will be closed, with the latter relocated to a safer location. It called on relocation works to be sped up.

Tamil Nesan welcomed the formation of the royal commission to look into allegations of judge fixing.

Makkal Osai commended on the move by 48 Indian-based organisations to do their bit to help elevate the Indian community.

Sin Chew Daily urged the authority to seriously look into the worsening income disparity which is reflected by Malaysia's Gini coefficient of 0.46, the highest in the region. The daily said that poverty eradication should not be based on race or area, whether it is rural or urban.

Nanyang Siang Pau urged the works ministry to learn lessons from the Jelapang toll when designing a new toll complex. There have been more than 20 accidents in the toll plaza since 1997.