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 Star led with the government’s ex-gratia payout of RM10.5 million to the six judges who were ‘sacked’ or suspended in what has been dubbed the ‘1988 judicial crisis’.

Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, revealed the details in Parliament, saying the government has been compelled to do so despite requests from the judges or their families to withhold the information. He clarified that the judges had not been sacked, but had been told to go on early retirement.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia also led with the disclosure on the ex-gratia payment.

Berita Harian reported that Umno’s disciplinary board and the Anti-Corruption Agency have devised a mechanism to contain money politics during in the party elections scheduled for next March.

Tamil newspapers

Malaysia Nanban led with a call for MIC president S Samy Vellu to step down and make way for new leaders, in tandem with similar developments in MCA and Umno. MIC Bagan chief Henry Benedict Asirvatham made the call.

Tamil Nesan front-paged the ex-gratia payment.

Makkal Osai

highlighted MCA president Ong Tee Keat's comments on Barack Obama’s victory as president-elect, saying that Malaysia should emulate this.

Editorial

New Straits Times expressed the view that many countries hope for better relations with the United States, under Obama’s administration.

Berita Harian said Obama should change many of the US policies.

Malaysia Nanban commented that Obama’s victory is a lesson for the rest of the world.

Makkal Osai highlighted the importance of rivers in cities.

Tamil Nesan called upon the Obama administration to take the US in a new direction.