Malaysiakini compares the key news and views in major newspapers. What is today's agenda for the newspapers?

Front Page

English newspapers

New Straits Times headlined that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak wants the Malaysian football team to use their Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup win as a stepping stone to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

Players and coaches were rewarded with RM15,000 cash and RM50,000 in Amanah Saham Wawasan 2020 shares.

Star reported that the impasse over the appointment of new Selangor state secretary Mohd Khusrin Munawi is causing uncertainty in the state administration.

It also frontpaged a photo from Ipswich, Queensland, which was hit by floods yesterday, along with the city of Brisbane in Australia.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian too led with the RM65,000 award received by the Malaysian football team and its coaches.

Utusan also highlighted an apology by the president of the Malay Military Veterans Association (PVTM) president Mohd Ali Baharom, who had admitted to buying a fake datukship for RM250,000 in 2006.

Berita Harian also frontpaged that the Selangor palace has accepted the royal titles returned by former Selangor menteri besar Mohd Khir Toyo yesterday.

Sinar Harian featured news that Selangor PAS commissioner Hasan Ali has advised Seri Muda assemblyperson Shuhaimi Shafie to apologise over his blog posting which some claim was treasonous.

Chinese newspapers

Oriental Daily News headlined that guidelines by the Home Ministry against sedition will be ready soon.

Sin Chew Daily front-paged the Home Ministry's decision to relax the citizenship requirements for the elderly aged above 60, by exempting them from the Bahasa Malaysia test.

China Press focused on the inspector-general of police’s pledge to close down all Internet gambling cafes before Jan 15.

Nanyang Siang Pau front-paged the Finance Ministry's announcement that 20 foreign companies plan to be listed on the Malaysian stock market.

Editorial

New Straits Times noted that the fact that the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index hit a historical high of 1,572 points recently, compared to 901 when Najib took over in April, is a sign that the premier's Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) is working.

Berita Harian said that the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom) must find a more efficient way to inspect the estimated three million motorcyles still not checked, to avoid accidents due to malfunction.

Utusan opined that the BN government's ETP is more realistic than Pakatan Rakyat's 100-day plan, as the ETP is grounded on realistic projects which will benefit the rakyat.

China Press urged the government, especially the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, to closely monitor private welfare centres.

Sin Chew Daily reminded that there are many less-fortunate people with medical problems who need helps.

Nanyang Siang Pau reminded Bursa Negara, Bank Negara and investors to take the Bangladesh stock market disaster as a lesson and take precautionary measures before it is too late.