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 Star, New Straits Times and The Sun headlined with the government’s three-pronged strategy to ensure prices and supply of essential goods remained stable given the escalating oil prices worldwide.

The government said they will establish a National Stockpile and National Call Centre under the National Price Council to protect consumers’ interest.

Essential items like oil and rice will be released to consumers if the are found to be scarce in the open market.

Malay newspapers

Both Utusan Melayu and Berita Harian too chose government’s effort to ensure prices and stocks of essential items remain stable.

Chinese newspapers

Sin Chew Daily, Oriental Daily News and Nanyang Siang Pau all reported on the government’s setting up of a national stockpile of essential goods and commodities to fight the impact of rising prices.

Tamil newspapers

There are no Tamil newspapers today due to Thaipusam yesterday.

Editorial

News Straits Times expressed their admiration for the indigenous community of Kampung Sukau in Sabah. Among the poorest communities in Malaysia, the Orang Sungai have managed to develop a self-sustainable eco-tourism business albeit being poverty-stricken.

Utusan Melayu speaks of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) dividend rates of 5.8 percent this year as evidence that the EPF have been efficient in its investment programmes.

Berita Harian calls for the government to introduce a new paradigm for Felda so that the body can compete with other races as well as internationally.

Sin Chew Daily urged the EPF to increase its dividend to protect the pensioners.

Nanyang Siang Pau commented on the copyrights issue of the Chinese New Year songs played during the coming festive season.

Oriental Daily News asked the government to ensure a balance of supply and demand of goods in the market to prevent rising of prices.