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

Front page

English newspapers

Star front-paged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s agreement on appointing more leaders from Sabah to governmental posts involving a variety of issues, including the presence of illegal immigrants.

New Straits Times led with academicians questioning the centralised intake system for public universities, if the aim is to raise the quality of institutions of higher learning.

Malay newspapers

Berita Harian highlighted Abdullah’s pledge to aggressively pursue implementation of reforms promised by Barisan Nasional, including those involving the judiciary and police.

The daily also picked up on PAS support for the Selangor government’s decision to develop a pig-farming project which will cost RM100 million.

Utusan Malaysia led with a report quoting Abdullah as saying he will not overstay in the post and that he would step down when the time is right.

Chinese newspapers

Nanyang Siang Pau front-paged Abdullah’s open endorsement of Najib as his successor.

Oriental Daily News reported Sabah BN’s backing for Abdullah as prime minister.

Sin Chew Daily chose to lead with the Perak government’s decision to allow Chinese schools to pay a token RM1 in quit rent to alleviate their financial burden.

Editorial

Berita Harian says critics, including Dr Mahathir Mohamad, must stop bickering and pointing fingers at Umno, and instead contribute ideas on how to rebuild the party after losing five states to Pakatan Rakyat in the general election.

Responding to the hike in rice price in the global market, Utusan Malaysia asks the government to closely monitor supply to ensure that there is no shortage.

New Straits Times says political crossovers do not take place in this country for reasons of principle but for personal gain to advance the career of those involved. The daily hopes that there will be bi-partisan support for the proposal to make party-hopping illegal, when it is tabled in Parliament.

Nanyang Siang Pau claims that Abdullah’s criticism of Mahathir, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Anwar Ibrahim over the weekend was an act of self-defence, but opines that this will rip the party even further while benefitting those who want to take over.

Sin Chew Daily urges the government to put more effort into the development of the agricultural sector, to ensure self-sufficiency in food.