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

Front Page

English papers

All three English newspapers - The Sun, New Straits Times and Star - front paged excerpts of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s testimony at the Lingam tape inquiry.

The Star however runs a second lead claiming that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would chair the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting on Monday to finalise polls preparation.

Malay papers

Utusan Malaysia focused on Mahathir’s claim that he was not influenced in his decision to appoint judges.

Berita Harian however led with Mahathir’s claims that he does not know Lingam.

Tamil newspapers

All Tamil dailies - Malaysia Nanban, Makkal Osai and Tamil Nesan - highlighted the death of a secondary school boy who had fallen from the second floor of his school. His family claimed foul play and was upset over the school’s silence on the issue.

Tamil Nesan also reported MIC president S Samy Vellu as saying that the government has allocated a special fund for the Indian community.

In Makkal Osai, Samy Vellu was quoted as saying that he was not bothered with criticisms levelled against MIC, adding that he would put many new faces in the coming general election.

Chinese newspapers

Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau and Oriental Daily News all led with the testimony given by the former prime minister Dr Mahathir yesterday.

Editorial

New Straits Times suggests how the government can recover National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loans by 2010.

The Sun said the biggest test of Malaysia’s democratic system will begin once the Lingam tape inquiry has concluded.

Berita Harian urged the Education Ministry to reconsider a decision not to include books by national laureates into the newly introduced literature component of the Bahasa Malaysia course.

Makkal Osai advised SPM and STPM students not to wait till the last moment to apply for public university entry. The results of these two public exams would be announced in February or March.

Tamil Nesan welcomed the insurance scheme for foreign workers employed as domestic maids here.

Sin Chew Daily and Nanyang Siang Pau urged the authorities to improve the quality of doctors in the country, following reports of several medical negligent cases in the recent past.