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

Front page

English newspapers

The New Straits Times and Star reported Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi saying that the Bersih rally was tantamount to dragging the King into politics.

The Sun headlined Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's warning against fanning racial sentiments.

Chinese Newspapers

Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau and Oriental Daily News all frontpaged the prime minister lambasting opposition parties for dragging the King into politics.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia led with the dissolution of the Pakistan parliament by president Pervez Musharraf to make way for elections in the troubled state.

Utusan also reported that the Kelantan government allegedly gave approval to several companies using foreign workers to develop the Lojing Highlands area in Gua Musang. It also said that Felda settlers are getting up to RM12,000 per month due to rocketing palm oil prices.

Berita Harian headlined the PM's comments that the opposition is out to tarnish the royal institution.

It also carried stories that the first batch of 380 pilgrims going to Mecca to perform the haj departed from Kuala Lumpur yesterday and that the text book revision panel says some content in school text books are obsolete and needs to be revamped.

Tamil newspapers

All three Tamil dailies - Malaysia Nanban, Tamil Nesan and Makkal Osai - led with a warning by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to the opposition not to drag the monarchs into their political game.

The dailies also reported on the government-held Deepavali open house in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur yesterday. The open house was attended by the deputy premier Najib Abdul Razak, MIC president S Samy Vellu, several cabinet members and all MIC leaders.

Editorial

The New Straits Times opined that the Bersih rally does not mean the government could be deemed as being illegitimate.

Berita Harian commended the police for successfully dealing with the Bersih rally.
The Sun opined that the public transportation sector needs to be seriously improved if the fuel subsidy is withdrawn.

Sin Chew Daily opined that there is no short cut to improve the quality and ranking of Malaysian universities.

Nanyang Siang Pau commented on how to implement the proposed subsidy restructuring plan.

Malaysia Nanban commented that Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin was wrong to say that Indian newspaper vendors were to be blamed for the non-coverage of Umno president's speech on Thursday in the newspapers. The daily said it was an agreed shut down date due to a gazetted public holiday.

Tamil Nesan commented on the need for a new law to protect children.