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

New Straits Times, the Star and The Sun front-paged 26 people charged yesterday; 17 for participating in the Nov 10 Bersih rally, 8 for the human rights walk on Sunday and lawyer Edmund Bon for obstructing officers from doing their duty.

They also led with the prime minister’s assertion that the government prioritises public safety over public freedom and will not hesitate to take stern action against those who threaten peace including the use of the Internal Security Act if necessary.

The Star also front-paged a photo of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil surveying a flooded village in Segamat, Johor yesterday.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia reported the charges against three opposition leaders; PAS vice president Mohamad Sabu, PKR information chief Tian Chua and PKR national integration chief N Gobalakrishnan for their participation in the Bersih rally on Nov 10. It also reported charges of illegal assembly against eight participants of the human rights march on Sunday.

Utusan Malaysia also front-paged Malaysia’s nine gold medals at the South East Asian games and the Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan’s warnings that more Hindraf leaders and supporters will be arrested as police have finished investigations.

Berita Harian led with the prime minister’s assertion that the government will not compromise public safety for freedom. It also reported the 27 people charged for participating in the Bersih and Hindraf illegal rallies and news of a projected 70 percent increase in government-linked companies profit from RM10.2 billion last year to RM17.4 billion.

Tamil newspapers

All Tamil dailies - Tamil Nesan, Malaysia Nanban and Makkal Osai - led with the Bersih protesters who were charged yesterday. Also in the main page was the news on the reinstatement of the sedition charge against three Hindraf leaders.

The dailies also said the Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak would be getting an explanation from PPP president M Kayveas for blaming MIC for the woes of the Indian community.

Editorial

New Straits Times criticised the lawyers who proceeded with the human rights walk and the Bar Council for defending their right to march. It said that persons who disagree with a law should try to change it rather than break it.

The Sun urged more sensible, cheaper and rudimentary ways of alleviating floods including designating catchment zones and green areas, instead of investing RM21 billion in building dams and deepening rivers.

Utusan Malaysia also slammed the lawyers who continued their human rights march without a permit and lauded the government’s stern actions against street protestors.

Berita Harian called on people living in flood-prone regions to make preparations in case of rising water levels. It also urged the government to study the cause of floods and take the necessary steps to solve the problem.

Tamil Nesan said preventive measures must be taken to stop floods.

Makkal Osai criticised MIC President S Samy Vellu’s action in barring a journalist from the daily from covering a function on Sunday.