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

The New Straits Times reported that the Penanti by-election may not take place after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) found that there were insufficient grounds to charge assemblyperson Mohamad Fairus Khairuddin with corruption.

The Star highlighted the ‘common religion’ laws that have been set by the cabinet to sort out conversion issues.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia focused on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s assurance that the removal of the 30 percent bumiputera equity in 27 service sub-sectors would not jeopardize the Malays.

Berita Harian led with the report that, according to the new ruling set by the cabinet, children will follow the original religion of their parents even after one of their parents convert to another religion.

Chinese newspapers

Nan Yang Siang Pau

, Sin Chew Daily , China Press and Oriental News Daily all reported that parents no longer have the right to convert their children after marriage.

Meanwhile, China Press also devoted a large portion of its front page to the news that a Chinese family had to pay RM1 million ransom for the return of a seven-year-old boy.

Tamil newspapers

Malaysia Nanban reported on Liberation of Tamil Tigers Eelam (LTTE) leader, Velupillai Prabakaran in action on the battlefield.

Makkal Osai and Tamil Nesan also led with the government ruling that disallows children to be converted as seen in M Indira Gandhi's case

Editorial

The New Straits Times urged all Malaysians to realise the 'One Malaysia' concept, whether in allowing equal opportunities for scholarships to all Malaysian students or streamlining news slots for prime time news in all languages.

Berita Harian hoped that the profit earned from the liberalisation of the economy will benefit all Malaysians.

Nan Yang Siang Pau lauded the new government’s scheme to liberate the economy, and also emphasised that it must gradually replace a quota-based economy with a performance-based economy.

Sin Chew Daily too, lauded the liberation scheme, and added that the move would improve the country’s economic competency.

Malaysia Nanban

thanked the Ministry of Information for changing the airtime of Tamil news and gave suggestions on several other matters.

Tamil Nesan hailed the liberalisation of the services sectors by the prime minister as a wise move.