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

Front Page

English newspapers

The Star highlighted that fear of nuclear disaster in Japan heightened after radiation levels around Fukushima nuclear power plant soared after two separate explosions and a fire.

The International Atomic Energy Agency was reported saying a radiation dose level of 11.9 millisieverts (mSv) per hour was observed in Fukushima. Exposure of over 100 (mSv) a year can lead to cancer.

New Straits Times led with Japan facing a potential calamity after explosions were reported at a nuclear power plant, resulting in low levels of radiation floating towards Tokyo. It was reported that the crisis appeared to escalate late yesterday when the operators of the facility said one of two blasts had blown a hole in the building housing a reactor.

Malay newspapers            

Utusan Malaysia front-paged Japan’s nuclear crisis deepening when the radiation level was found to increase and causing s health hazard in the vicinity of Fukushima, after two of its nuclear plant reactord exploded following last Friday’s disastrous earthquake.

According to city officials, the radiation levels in the city of Maebashi, 100km north of Tokyo, ballooned to 10 times normal levels, while only low levels of radiation were detected in Tokyo.

The Japanese government also announced a ban on flights for a distance of 30km around the the reactor in Fukushima.

Berita Harian led with Japan's nuclear crisis which deepened further when a hydrogen explosion occurred on a third reactor in Fukushima yesterday.

The radiation level increased 20 times above normal levels in Tokyo earlier yesterday, but the local government gave an assurance that it will not affect the nation’s health.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan appealed to his nation not to panic, but warned there is a high risk of further leaks occurring.

Sinar Harian headlined with PRK de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim accusing the federal government of not being impartial in its development allocation to states under the Pakatan Rakyat.

Anwar was reported as saying that Selangor state, for an example, only receives RM400 million, that is 2.9 percent of tax revenue paid to the federal government.

Chinese newspapers

Oriental Daily News, Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press all front-paged Japan’s deepening nuclear crisis where explosions were reported at two of its nuclear reactors yesterday.

Editorial

New Straits Times commented that rehabilitation of criminals could be achieved in various ways as stated by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

Hishammuddin was reported as saying that petty criminals will be put to work in military camps, as it was designed to be a ‘win-win solution’.

Utusan Malaysia commented that it is the voters of the nation who determine which party rules in the country and not the Barisan Nasional party as Malaysia practices democracy, and the election of both MPs and the ruling party are determined by the people 100 percent.

Hence, it is deemed awkward when PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang made a statement in the Dewan Rakyat questioning why BN has been ruling for a long time.

China Press urged the government to consider issuing a warning to Malaysian against travelling to Japan in view of its nuclear crisis.

Nanyang Siang Pau regretted that some politicians had tried to stop Penang Jit Sin Independent Chinese School from setting up a branch, to gain a personal political advantage.

Sin Chew Daily called on the government to reduce Malaysian industries’ dependence on Japan, in preventing an economic impact from Japan’s economic downturn.