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 led with five kidnappers being caught by the police after collecting 10 gold bars worth RM 1.44 million as ransom from a 62-year-old security firm director’s family for his release in Klang on Tuesday.

It was reported that the kidnapping was masterminded by a 37-year-old former air steward, who did not have any prior criminal record.  

The Star highlighted the bus companies’ proposal that they be allowed to make deductions from the salaries of errant drivers to pay traffic summonses as it would discipline the drivers and put an end to the rising number of bus accidents claiming hundreds of innocent lives.

The proposal was sent to the Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam and Labour Department director-general Yahya Mohamed by Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association president Mohamad Ashfar Ali.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia headlined that the government is expected to increase gasoline and diesel subsidies to RM4 billion this year if crude oil prices breached the RM302 (US$100) per barrel mark.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the increased subsidy had to be made if the country does not realign RON 95 petrol and diesel fuel prices.

Berita Harian led with the government giving an assurance  that the economy will continue to grow by at least five to six percent this year, despite having to face new economic risks due to the increase in global oil prices.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said two approaches will be undertaken through the implementation of various projects under the Economic Transformation Programme in an orderly manner to ensure domestic demand remains strong, through several steps that will be announced.

Sinar Harian headlined PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim telling Pakatan leaders who are not satisfied if they were not selected to contest during the next general election, that they are more than welcome to leave because the Pakatan pact only wants candidates who are willing to sacrifice.        

Chinese newspapers

Oriental Daily News headlined the Prime Minister saying there are three main threats facing the country, which are petrol price increases, sovereign debt and inflation.

China Press and Sin Chew Daily led with a 23-year-old homosexual male who had cheated about 200 people for the past two years, with some victims suffering from sexually transmitted diseases.

Nanyang Siang Pau headlined that Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (PNS) had launched the 1Malaysia Young Entrepreneurs Franchise Programme, and for the first time it would be open to non-bumiputras.

Editorial

New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia commented on the ‘Rumah Pertamaku’ (My first Home) housing programme launched by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, which would help solve the problem of young people being forced to live in rental properties for a long period of time since they did not have the means to buy a house.

Although a deposit of 10 percent can be withdrawn from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), not many young people have an adequate amount to be withdrawn from the account.

Nanyang Siang Pau claimed that Islamic policies had become a test for the collaboration between Pakatan Rakyat parties.

Sin Chew Daily urged the government to amend the macroscopic economic and trade plan in order to compete with other countries.

China Press urged the Health Ministry to be well-prepared in preventing the spread of unknown diseases.