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

Front page

English newspapers

The Klang Valley looks set to be deserted during the Chinese New Year celebration following a balik kampung rush, said the Star .

New Straits Times meanwhile highlighted the proceedings of the royal commission of inquiry into te Lingam tape.

Malay newspapers

Both Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian front-paged Tabung Haji's announcement of RM1.05billion dividend to be distributed among its 4.2 million depositors. This is the highest payout in seven years.

Chinese newspapers

Sin Chew Daily led with Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar praising the daily for being able to raise donation to help the snow storm victims in China.

Oriental Daily News front-paged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s promise to seriously consider the reopening of SRJK(C) Damansara.

Nanyang Siang Pau highlighted custom department’s tactic to fully utilise SMS service to check restaurants which illegally charged service tax. The department will take action within 45 minutes after receiving consumers’ SMS of any alleged illegal charge by such restaurants.

Tamil newspapers

Tamil Nesan said that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had briefed the cabinet yesterday on the grouses affecting the Indian community, as raised by MIC president during a special one-day meeting last Sunday.

The daily also reported that the government has allocated RM20 million to build and repair tamil schools nationwide.

Makkal Osai led with the story about the Selangor state government undertaking a mammoth task of registering all ‘stateless' Indians in the state. These are people without birth certificates and identity cards.

Editorials

Utusan Malaysia said bumiputera contractors should make full use of the new contracts given to them the government under the 9th Malaysian Plan.

Berita Harian also commented on the privileges given to bumiputera contractors and said this was the time for them to prove their capabilities.

In light of the many crime cases, New Straits Times said the neighbourhood rehabilitation programme tasked to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry must directly work with communities involving residents of high-risk areas.

Tamil Nesan said deputy prime minister Najib's assurance that the plights of the Indian community would be looked into was reassuring.

Sin Chew reminded the people of the importance of making their homes safe to improve the public security.

Oriental Daily News commented on ex-premier Dr Mahathir’s urge to the voters to ‘clean’ the BN from within.

Nanyang Siang Pau urged all Malaysians to give full cooperation to the government’s effort to enhance the public service and reminded the people that it’s also their responsibility to upgrade the public service. It also called for more Chinese Malaysians to join the public service sector.