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 headlined Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's dismissing claims made by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin in his statutory declaration on the Altantuya murder.

The Star led with vehicle drivers' fuming over petroleum dealers association's decision not to accept credit cards as a payment mode.

Bahasa newspapers

Berita Harian also headlined the premier's statement that there was no military intelligence report that connected his deputy Najib's wife Rosmah to the murder of Altantuya Shaaribu. This was in response to Raja Petra's statutory declaration implicating Rosmah.

Utusan Malaysia led with Sultan Azlan Shah's message during the opening ceremony of the Perak state legislative assembly. In his message the sultan reminded the people not to allow debates on Islam to get out of hand as it can lead to tensions among the people.

Chinese newspapers

Sin Chew Daily and China Press frontpaged a boycott by journalists in Parliament following a decision to cut media access to the building's lobby.

Nanyang Siang Pau highlighted PM Abdullah refuting Raja Petra's allegation that Najib's wife Rosmah was present at the scene when Altantuya was murdered

Oriental Daily News frontpaged the continuing dispute in New Era College where 24 heads of administration and representatives of lecturers and students have issued a press statement on academic sovereignty.

Tamil newspapers

Malaysia Nanban headlined the death of its senior editor K Gurusamy who passed away yesterday due to health complications at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital.

Makkal Osai headlined Perak exco S Sivanesan telling off Deputy FT Minister M Saravanan to keep out of the Ipoh City mayor appointment.

Tamil Nesan highlighted reports on the plights of people who were unable to claim EPF monies of their deceased loved ones.

Editorial

New Straits Times reviewed the progress made by the BN government in the first 100 days. It stated that the development funds have started pouring in to Sabah and Sarawak. There were also signs on the beginning of judicial reform amidst threat from opposition to form the next new government.

Berita Harian called upon the petrol pump owners to prioritise customers by allowing them to make payment via credit cards.

In its editorial, Utusan Malaysia commented that the unity shown by the BN parliamentarians to pass the special motion on the price increase of petrol and other products at the Parliament would dispel any notions of disunity within BN.

Malaysia Nanban commented on the on going conflict in Sri Lanka between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. The daily has pushed for a non-military mode of conflict resolution as well as active participation of India to resolve the conflict.

Makkal Osai welcomed Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim's suggestion to allow would-be home owners to complete their payments before owning them. It however cautioned on the impact of implementing the system.

Nanyang Siang Pau commented that the prime minister still has the support within the BN.

China Press claimed that Parliament administration's restriction on journalists was an unacceptable hamper on press freedom, hence the media boycott was justified.

Sin Chew Daily declared that yesterday was the darkest day in Malaysian journalists' history, when Parliament administration put restriction on media coverage in the Parliament lobby.