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

All three dailies - Star, TheSun and New Straits Times - highlighted the Royal Address during the opening of the 12th session of Parliament yesterday.

The King urged MPs to ensure unity in Malaysia’s plural society and to prevent attempts to cause divisions between ethnic groups. He also asked lawmakers to place the nation’s interests above all else.

Malay newspapers

While Berita Harian led with the Royal Address, Utusan Malaysia front-paged the immediate removal of Jamry Sury as head of the Perak religious affairs department. This was on the instructions of Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

Chinese newspapers

Sin Chew Daily front-paged the premier’s decision to revisit mega projects that will benefit those in the low-income group.

Oriental Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press all highlighted different elements of the Royal Address - subsidies to assist the poor, eradication of corruption, and upholding the national interest.

Editorial

TheSun says it the duty of every MP to ensure that laws and policies are beneficial before expressing support, because every decision will affect citizens.

New Straits Times, in focusing on food-crisis management, says the federal and state governments will have common ground on which to build a working relationship.

Berita Harian says all parties, especially Islamic authorities, must give guidance and protection the new converts to ensure that they adapt to Islam easily, and are able to maintain their relationship with their families.

Utusan Malaysia wants MPs, irrespective of their political ideology, to work together in expressing issues that affect the people and the country.

Sin Chew Daily is of the opinion that the shift away from the Ketuanan Melayu mindset to one of Ketuanan Rakyat is part of the democratic process.