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 led with China imposing stringent requirements for visa application because of the Beijing Olympics.

New Straits Times highlighted the arrest of several local footballers over their alleged involvement in match-fixing for Malaysian league matches. The thriving local football scene was almost put to dead by the fire wave of match-fixing in 1994 and 1995 when many established players were found guilty of selling games.

The Sun front-paged a plot to remove almost RM10 million ringgit from a welfare body's bank accounts by its members, including the wife of former Selangor Menteri Besar Zaharah Kechik.

Malay newspapers

Berita Harian led with the Prime Minister’s announcement that Malaysia was willing to assist Thailand in the economy and social development of southern Thailand.

The daily also headlined 15 footballers from the Sarawak and Police teams were under investigations in an operation against match-fixing.

Utusan Malaysia front-paged Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs minister Shahrir Samad’s announcement that subsidised diesel will no longer be available at petrol stations once the restructuring of fuel subsidies take place soon.

Tamil newspapers

Tamil Nesan led with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak dismissing speculations that BN parliamentarians would be defecting to Pakatan Rakyat.

Malaysia Nanban reported that an Indian settlement in Penang was in danger of being evicted for development to take place. Residents were complaining that they had a legal right o remain in Kampung Lorong Buah Pala.

Editorial

New Straits Times applauded the move by the government to open up one percent of the civil serivce jobs for the disabled. The daily also called for the mainstreaming of children with disabilities into schools, to enable them to have normal learning environment.

Berita Harian said the move by the government to review the 9th Malaysia Plan mega projects will ensure the attention can be given to agriculture development in the midst of world food crisis.

Malaysia Nanban commended the Works Ministry’s allocation of fund to renovate 40 Tamil schools.

Tamil Nesan said that the visit by Thailand Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to Malaysia could strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries.