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

Front Page

English newspapers

Star led with the Health Ministry’s concern over the numbers of youth suffering from mental health issues. A pilot project has been launched in four secondary schools to identify and address the situation.

New Straits Times headlined premier Najib Abdul Razak’s announcement that the Felda community is now officially in the middle-income group, with an average income of RM3,000 per month. Felda will continue to assist them and their children.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia reported Najib’s willingness to debate with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Sinar Harian led with a heart-breaking report about an orphan who has been abused since last November. There are burns due to electric shocks to nearly 70 percent of his body.

Berita Harian focusd on Najib’s announcement of a RM1.6 billion allocation to Felda for its operations nationwide.

Chinese newspapers

Sin Chew Daily headlined the six-month pilot project in four secondary schools in Penang, Perak, Malacca and Sabah, on coping with mental pressure.

China Press reported that the police had cracked baby-trafficking cases involving threee international groups, saved 22 babies and caught 30 people over a period of six months.

Nanyang Siang Pau said cross-border stock trading between Malaysia and Thailand will start at the end of this year.

Oriental Daily News focused on the Najib-Anwar exchange in relation to the debate challenge.

Editorial

New Straits Times commented on Malaysia’s ranking - 22nd out of 149 participating nations - in the Global Peace Index.

Berita Harian said the government’s concern for Felda settlers should not be politicised, and that the RM1.6 billion allocation will benefit everyone regardless of their political affiliation.

Nanyang Siang Pau discussed the MCA Youth Education Bureau’s campaign to encourage more secondary school students to sit for the Chinese language subject in the SPM examination, to promote the language and solve the shortage of Mandarin teachers in SJKCs.

China Press supported the move by the Education and Health Ministries to teach secondary students to handle pressure. However, they cautioned that teachers should not be burdened in the process.

Sin Chew Daily commented on the case of the Italian prime minister who is being nvestigated for allegedly having sex with a teenager. It said this shows that the dignity of the law is greater than the dignity of the prime minister in a country ruled by law.