Malaysiakini compares the key news and views in major newspapers. What is today's agenda for the English, Bahasa, Tamil and Chinese paper?

Front Page

English newspapers

The New Straits Times highlighted the predicament of more than 1,000 convicted prisoners who cannot appeal against their sentences as Sessions Court judges and magistrates have not submitted written judgments. Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim said he was looking into the matter.

The Star revealed there are thousands of learner drivers who have cheated to obtain their provisional 'L' licences by paying their driving school instructors between RM100 and RM400 to get the licences without sitting for the highway code test.

The Sun meanwhile featured a parliamentary report on its frontpage, quoting Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz as saying the draft legislation for the setting up of the long-awaited Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, or IPCMC, has been completed and distributed to various agencies for feedback.

Malay newspapers

Both Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian frontpaged the news on the government's move to build special lanes for motorcycles at the accident-prone areas nationwide.

However, the two dailies - although both were quoting Works Minister S Samy Vellu - carried contradictory figures on the cost for the project. Utusan Malaysia said it is estimated to cost RM140 million while Berita Harian put the figure at RM485 million.

Both dailies also highlighted the visit of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who successfully underwent his second heart bypass surgery at the National Heart Institute.

Chinese newspapers

All Chinese dailies continued to highlight the Malacca pig farms issue. They reported that the cabinet did not intend to ban pig farming industry and wanted the Malacca state government to solve the issue.

Sin Chew Daily and Oriental Daily News frontpaged the cabinet's decision to send Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to meet with Malacca Chief Minister Mohamed Ali Rustam to solve the issue.

Nanyang Siang Pau reported that MCA and Gerakan ministers protested against Tuesday's pig farm demolition action in yesterday's cabinet meeting.

Tamil newspapers

Both Malaysia Nanban and Tamil Nesan carried a series of reports rebuking former judge VC George over his written comments in calling for the closure of all Tamil schools in Malaysia.

Malaysia Nanban also carried George's refusal to comment to the daily on the matter. The former judge was quoted as saying that the daily should have approached him first before running stories on his remarks which appeared in a Malaysian Bar's publication.

Both the dailies also carried photographs of students and parents from SRJK(T) Mahajothi in Sungai Patani protesting against George's remarks. They want him to apologise and withdraw the remarks.

Editorials

The Sun lauded the latest call by prominent banker Nazir Razak and former police chief Hanif Omar to re-evaluate and fine-tune the New Economic Policy.

The New Straits Times discussed the leaks of examination questions.

Both Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian urged the government to have heavier sentence - the former was on the threat of 'samseng' against enforcement officers and the latter on the smuggling of subsidised diesel.

All Sin Chew Daily, Oriental Daily News and Nanyang Siang Pau said forcible culling of the pigs was not the solution to the issue. Malacca state government was urged to have clear policy for the industry.

Malaysia Nanban requested Indian youths to avoid the risk of being left further behind by actively participating in all event and programmes organised by various government departments and agencies.

Tamil Nesan urged the government to ensure that productivity is not lost in the new five-year maternity leave plan.