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 briefly headlined key issues at yesterday's royal commission of inquiry into the Lingam tape, chiefly the panel's rejection of the third video clip as evidence and Lingam's brother Thirunama Karasu to testify as the panel's last witness.

The Star led with the Anti-Corruption Agency's investigating officer grilled at the Lingam tape inquiry for unsatisfactory investigations into the telephone records of Lingam and former chief justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, the person purported to be on the other end of the conversation.

It also front-paged Malaysia Airlines' target of RM1bil annual profit for the next five years under its new business plans and a photograph of Barisan Nasional's election preparations in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur.

The Sun led with 60 new police stations and bases in three states and Kuala Lumpur from Feb 15, the first phase of the police's strategy to fight crime. It also reported the royal commission rejecting the third portion of the infamous Lingam tape as evidence.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia front-paged ACA's revelation that it did not use a lie detector test on Lingam in its investigations into alleged judicial fixing. It also reported a sad fifth birthday celebration for Sharlinie's family with the child still missing since Jan 9.

Utusan Malaysia also led with Perlis Menteri Besar Shahidan Kassim nominating two candidates for the upcoming general elections. The two candidates are Home Affairs Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Natural Resource and Environment Minister Azmi Khalid.

Berita Harian reported that the police force is to contractually employ 3,000 more personnel, including retired officers, as part of their plans to improve public relations and combat crime.

It also led with Lingam's two lengthy phone calls to Singapore on Dec 20, 2001 - the date the video is said to be made.

Tamil newspapers

Tamil Nesan led with a speculative piece that the MIC would be placing many new faces in the coming general election.

Makkal Osai highlighted PPP president M Kayveas asking the Batu Caves temple committee to public show the accounts of all donations received during the Thaipusam festival.

Editorial

New Straits Times commented favourably on the Sabah Development Corridor as "the second wind" needed to uplift the socio-economic position of all Sabahans. It, however, warned that development should not be at the expense of the environment.

The Sun expressed hope on the police force's new strategy to fight crime. It proposed that the first step in this initiative is for personnel to approach the public in a friendly, trustworthy and cooperative spirit.

Utusan Malaysia urged greater efforts to recover missing child Sharlinie Mohd Nashar who was taken from her home three weeks ago.

Berita Harian called on Sabahans to embrace the new opportunities created by the Sabah Development Corridor.

Tamil Nesan welcomed the newly launched no-frills air service from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore which is offered by AirAsia.