Malaysiakini compares the key news and views in major newspapers, What are today's agenda for the English, Bahasa, Chinese and Tamil papers. Find out here.

Frontpage

English newspapers

All the English dailies, namely, Star, New Straits Times, and The Sun led with the report on the Federal Court's dismissal of Lina Joy's appeal to remove her religious status from her identity card. The court ruled that only the Syariah Court's order confirming her apostasy before NRD could remove the word "Islam" from her Mykad.

New Straits Times also reported the disbandment of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Sinawatra's party after breaking election rules.

Malay newspapers

Both Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian frontpaged the Lina Joy case.

Utusan Malaysia also carried a report on a restaurant in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan that sold a glass of warm water for RM0.40.

Meanwhile, Berita Harian reported that several abandoned factory building in the country will be used as temporary prisons to place convicts facing less then six months of imprisonment.

Chinese newspapers

Local Chinese dailies like Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau and Oriental Daily reported Lina Joy's appeal to compel the NRD to remove the word Islam from her identity card was rejected in a majority decision (2 vs 1).

The judges had also ruled NRD to require Lina Joy to get a certificate of apostasy from the Syariah Court and since the Syariah Court had the jurisdiction over cases involving conversion to Islam, it should, by implication, have the power to decide on apostasy matters.

Tamil newspapers

Makkal Osai reported that Mapa and National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) have signed an agreement, consenting to the wage increment for rubber tappers and plantation workers. The daily also carried a report on how several families in Klang Valley obtained birth certificates and identity cards after their plight was highlighted by Makkal Osai.

Editorial

English newspapers

The New Straits Times applauded Education Ministry's move to cut down the amount of time teachers spend attending courses outside the classroom, And at the same, the daily also feels that the ministry should see the burden of teachers could be eased from all other aspects.

The Sun, on the other hand, calls to seek for a common ground in inter-faith relations. It feels that the judgment in Lina Joy's appeal to renounce Islam has many implications for many people, especially those involved in inter-religious relationships and their families.

Bahasa newspapers

Berita Harian hopes this year's budget consultation participants, from public and private sectors, as well as NGOs will not focus only on tax incentives but also produce more creative suggestions that will boost the country's revenue.

Utusan Malaysia calls for the Education Ministry to explain th concepts and implementation of Malaysian Teaching Standards (MTS). The daily also suggested MTS to be changed to New Curriculum for Malaysian Teaching or Collective Curriculum for Malaysian Teaching.

Chinese newspapers

Nanyang Siang Pau reported that politician should not proclaim any sexist statement by saying that scantily dressed was one of the main reasons why women are raped.

Sin Chew Daily reported consumers should keep away from food containing canser causing dye (Rhodamine B) which was often used in preparation of several popular Chinese buns and kuih.

Tamil newspapers

Makkal Osai is pleased with the federal territory minister who took heed of Bukit Damansara residents' calls to save the area from further development.

Others

Lina Joy's statement in the newspapers:

New Straits Times

I am disappointed that the Federal Court is not able to vindicate a simple but important fundamental right that exists in all persons, namely, the right to believe in religion of one's choice, and equally important, the right to marry a person of one's choice and to raise a family in the Malaysian context.

The Federal Court has not only denied me that rights but to all Malaysians who value fundamental freedoms.

I am hoping that my case would have made a difference to the development of constitutional issues in the plight of many others.

Asked if she would leave Malaysia for good, she said: It would be extremely difficult to exercise freedom of conscience in the present environment.

Star

Only God knows what is in my heart and I hope everyone will respect my conviction.