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

Front page

English newspaper

The Sun front-paged reactions by DAP and BN leaders over the resignation of DAP’s Fong Po Kuan five days before the nomination date.

The Star led with the election fever in Penang, where last-minute lobbying for seats is being carried out in both BN and the opposition parties.

New Straits Times lead with which candidates can best represent Malaysia as the next 48 to 72 hours to nomination date will be a defining time for Malaysia.

Malay newspaper

Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian led with the Prime Minister saying the BN candidates list was not final because he has the final say over who was going to contest in the 12th general election.

Chinese newspaper

Both Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Daily led with the internal quarrel in DAP.

Oriental Daily highlighted the police’s advice to the candidates not to recruit any gangsters for election campaigning purpose.

Tamil newspapers

Makkal Osai led with a news that a Tamil school in Penang has finally been allocated land for relocation by the state government.

Tamil Nesan led with an assurance by MIC president S Samy Vellu that the Kangar Pulai Tamil school in Johor would be built soon.

Editorial

The Sun said since the absence of local government elections, the Housing and Local Government Ministry should not delay the assessment scheme to evaluate performance of local authorities. This move will provide feedback to public officials on the relevance of their decisions to the people’s life.

New Straits Times said there was much to gain from the move to bring in a lot of fresh faces to stand for the March 8 general election besides a good electoral strategy.

Berita Harian said the resignation of Batu Gajah MP, Fong Po Kuan revealed that DAP practiced nepotism .

Utusan Malaysia said BN members who were not re-elected for the election should give full support to the party.

Oriental Daily commented on the forthcoming election in Pakistan and reminded that violence will ruin democracy.

Sin Chew Daily emphasised that the negative approach to curse opponents in order to gain votes was deplorable. It concluded that all political parties ought to make sure that their candidates run the campaign politely.

On the one-to-one battle between BN and opposition in most seats, Nanyang Siang Pau said that it would make the election more interesting.