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

Front Page

English newspapers

New Straits Times led with MCA’s response to a claim that its MPs will defect to Pakatan Rakyat. MCA leaders said Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim is trying to create a wedge within Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties and challenged him to produce a list of names.

Star headlined a Petronas statement that 5,000 copies of its annual report is available every year for public scrutiny. Since 2002, its accounts have also been available on its website.

Another report featured youthful offenders entering a UPSR class in an Integrity School set up in prison.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia reported Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s speech at the International Conference of Chief Executive Officers 2008. He said that rising crude oil prices have forced businesses to adopt cost-cutting in their operations.

Berita Harian headlined the case of Dr Robert Luk Tai Kong, who has been charged with eight counts of fabricating details in birth certificates.

Chinese newspapers

Sin Chew Daily frontpaged a Syariah court ruling yesterday that allowed the funeral of a woman in Perlis to be conducted according to Buddhist rituals, as she was found to have given up the Muslim way of life after being married to a Thai for 62 years.

Oriental Daily News highlighted a scenario of rapid political change in Sabah where three Barisan Nasional component parties are allegedly thinking of switching to Pakatan Rakyat.

Nanyang Siang Pau frontpaged Najib’s statement that the government will have to counter inflation.

China Press highlighted the case of a youth who was abducted, robbed and assaulted after he stopped a passing car for help to take his terminally ill mother to the hospital. She died for want of medical treatment.

Editorial

New Straits Times is all for the release of Petronas accounts for public’s perusal. With oil reserves drying up, this should not fuel national discontent.

Berita Harian suggests the import of chicken from Thailand and Indonesia to curb higher prices resulting from the lifting of the cap

Utusan Malaysia says the government proposal for a fuel-card system to distribute fuel subsidies is better than handing out cash rebates.

It adds that the government must come up with solutions to assist groups seriously affected by the rising cost of living, including single mothers, the poor and the disabled.

China Press has called on both government and individuals to work together in reducing expenditure.

Sin Chew Daily wants council members of the privately-run New Era College to respect academic freedom and resolve their internal dispute accordingly.

Oriental Daily News is of the opinion that rapid political change will have a substantial impact on the Malaysian political scene.

Nanyang Siang Pau sees the next two weeks as a critical period for Sabah BN component parties in deciding whether or not to stay put.