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 led with the finding of its own survey in which majority of its readers supported the Education Ministry proposal to make English pass a compulsory for the SPM exams.

The Star led with the return of the haze as Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Uggah Embas warned that the scenario would worsen due to open burning.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian reported on an armed attack in a mosque in Narathiwat, Thailand. Six masked men armed with M-16s machine-guns left 12 people killed and 11 others seriously injured.

Tamil newspapers

Malaysia Nanban reported that an explosion took place in Vavuniya in Sri Lanka, allegedly the work of the LTTE.

Tamil Nesan and Makkal Osai headlined a fight between two groups in Kamunting, Perak that resulted in 16 people being injured. Three men have been detained by the police.

Chinese newspapers

Both Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Daily highlighted the disputes between Malaysia and Indonesia over the Ambalat territorial waters.

The Indonesian authorities warned that they will risk a war if Malaysia does not take the initiative to solve these disputes.

China Press and Oriental Daily News front-paged a meeting between pig farmers and traders that ended up in a quarrel. A solution had been sought to solve the conflicts of interest between the related parties, which is to let the price of pork to be fixed according to the market demands.

Editorial

New Straits Times called for the "Three Es" - education, employment and entrepreneurship, to be used by both Malaysia and Indonesia to resolve the conflict in south Thailand.

Utusan Malaysia opined that making English a compulsory passing subject would be disadvantageous for rural students as there is no reason for the students there to communicate in English.

Berita Harian called for rationality to reign in deciding whether English should be made a compulsory subject.

Malaysia Nanban supported Ministry of Education's proposal to make English a compulsory passing subject at the SPM level.

Tamil Nesan and Makkal Osai also supported proposals for English to be made a required passing subject in the SPM examinations.

Nanyang Siang Pau raised concerns over the future of PAS, after its election last week, saying that this party lacked directions and objectives.

Sin Chew Daily urged the Ministry of Education and schools to put more efforts to improve the English standard among students.

China Press advised the public to think thoroughly before responding the proposal to make English pass compulsory for SPM.

Oriental Daily News urged fresh graduates to bravely face the high unemployment rate caused by the current worldwide economic crisis.