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 and The Star front-paged the landslide in Kapit, near Kuching yesterday. A 13-year old boy and an elderly woman were buried alive, seven people injured and two still reported missing.

New Straits Times

reported the prime minister’s speech at the Christian Federation of Malaysia’s Christmas celebration where he said moderates must lead the fight against fanatics or extremism will undermine the country’s interracial harmony.

The Star also led with the new Automated Enforcement System where ‘spy’ cameras will be installed at thousands of locations around the country early next year to monitor traffic offenders.

The Sun front-paged the floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains in Java that left 39 dead, 42 missing and more still unaccounted for. The Sun also reported the specially-packaged new RM50 commemorative note snapped up by collectors in a few hours when it went on sale yesterday at Bank Negara’s head office and several state branches.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia

front-paged the prime minister’s directive to government agencies to immediately fix the water supply problem in Pahang. It reported that 165,000 people in that state have not had access to clean water for two weeks since the floods.

It also reported that around 400 Bangladeshi workers who claim to have been cheated by employment agents and employers have gone to the Bangladesh High Commission for help and protection. Many of them have set up camp in and around the high commission’s premises in Kuala Lumpur.

The newspaper also led with the arrest of a lawyer believed to have swindled RM746,000 from seven clients.

Berita Harian

also reported the landslide in Kapit and in central Jawa yesterday where 81 people are missing or feared dead.

Another front-page report was the prime minister’s call to government agencies to immediately fix the basic amenities and infrastructure destroyed by the floods.

Chinese newspapers

Nanyang Siang Pau

reported that half of MCA’s parliamentary seats will have new faces in the coming general election which, according to sources, is expected to be held within 100 days..

Sin Chew Daily

led with the Gerakan Youth’s call to other BN component parties to respect its way of handling the issue surrounding its Youth vice-chief S Paranjothy.

According to Oriental Daily News , there are 1,000 cases of lost passports reported every month in Kuala Lumpur.

EDITORIAL

New Straits Times commented that compassion for those in need through words and actions is the litmus test of all religions. It also said that the poor need assistance beyond the seasonal aid dispensed when disaster strikes and more need to be done to increase awareness of available avenues for help.

The Sun said that harmony must never be taken for granted and there is a need to deal with the reality that our political representation is conducted along racial lines. It urged that community leaders enforce discipline amongst second and third line politicians who utter provocative words and actions. It also called on parliament to institute a consultative body to address the recent discontent before it becomes firmly entrenched.

Utusan Malaysia said that national unity was the joint responsibility of all Malaysians, not only the ministers. It urged people not to allow extremist groups to champion the causes of a certain race or religion at the expense of national harmony.

Berita Harian agrees with the prime minister’s Christmas day speech where he said that extremism will not solve problems but only create more unrest. It urged a soft approach, tolerance and diplomacy to solve racial and religious issues.

Oriental Daily News

urged people to be mindful of their international passports to avoid losing it.

Sin Chew Daily

commented on the recent Thai general election and lessons other developing countries can learn.

Nanyang Siang Pau

commented on the issue of canteen tender rights in the Chinese primary schools and urged the ministry to respect the rights of the school board directors.