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

New Straits Times led with the police stating that the allegation of sexual assault against PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has been classified as ‘sodomy’.

Star also focused on the continuing drama surrounding Anwar, with reports on his press conference and the meeting between his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia led with Abdullah's assurance that the allegation against Anwar will be investigated in a fair manner.

Berita Harian highlighted the premier’s view that Washington is meddling into Malaysia’s internal matters, following the US state department’s comment on the Anwar case.

Chinese newspapers

Oriental Daily News and Sin Chew Daily front-paged Abdullah’s assurance to Wan Azizah that Anwar will get a fair investigation.

China Press and Nanyang Siang Pau reported the government’s unhappiness with the US state department’s comments in the Anwar case.

Tamil newspapers

Tamil Nesan front-paged deputy premier Najib Abdul Razak's statement that the Education Ministrry would set up a unit to monitor the development and problems of Tamil schools.

Makkal Osai led with Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar's opinion that Anwar has nothing to fear if the sodomy charge against him is false.

Malaysia Nanban highlighted a 10-point memorandum by the Hindu Rights Action Force to resolve the problems of the Indian Malaysian community. The document dated June 29 has been sent to Abdullah.

Editorial

New Straits Times sees the walkout by opposition legislators as undermining the institution of parliament. The protest was over a ministerial statement tabled by the deputy premier in relation to the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) mid-term review.

Utusan Malaysia says the industrial sector, in particular the construction and farming industries, should phase out the use of foreign workers. Instead, they should invest in facilities that will attract locals.

Berita Harian urges Petronas to develop the gas distribution network since the government is subsidising the price of gas.

Nanyang Siang Pau says the government should step up efforts to develop sources of sustainable energy.

China Press says MPs should not become entangled in procedural matters, but focus on issues that concern the well-being of the nation.

Sin Chew Daily urges the government to not to overlook poverty among Chinese Malaysians, in the 9MP mid-term review.

Makkal Osai questions why the equity distribution for Indian Malaysians remains at 1.5 percent despite an increase of RM 3 billion in the allocation in the 9MP mid-term review.