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 reported disagreement over two proposals – on hudud law and to quarantine HIV carriers.

Star led with PAS’ stand that it will implement hudud and qisas laws when Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia

reported that 4,749 employees may be left jobless in the first quarter of 2009. However, the government will come up with a plan to retrain workers to fill vacancies elsewhere.

Berita Harian front-paged deputy premier Najib Abdul Razak’s response to the hudud proposal, saying it is only a political slogan to gain mileage in the Kuala Terengganu by-election.

Tamil newspapers

Malaysia Nanban

reported that the first individual to be found guilty under the Human Trafficking Act is Indian national Punitha Raja of Tamil Nadu, who has been sentenced eight years’ jail.

Tamil Nesan headlined that India is ready to go on battle mode against terrorists.

Makkal Osai

reported the case of a child who was killed when her mother poured hot boiling oil on her.

Chinese newspapers

Oriental Daily led with an exclusive interview with MCA president Ong Tee Keat, in which Ong claimed that his deputy Dr Chua Soi Lek had demanded for a cabinet post right after the party's October elections.

Sin Chew Daily highlighted the problem of job losses in the country in the first quarter of 2009.

China Press front-paged the Penang Municipal Council's 24-hour hotline, which will allow the public to make complaints in Mandarin, Tamil and Hokkien starting from next year.

Nanyang Siang Pau reported Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's pledge that there will be more open tenders on government contracts.

Editorial

Reacting to the proposal to quarantine HIV carriers, New Straits Times countered that the Perak Menteri Besar’s statement will only create prejudice against infected babies.

Utusan Malaysia

urged the relevant authorities to consider the people’s views before privatising the National Heart Institute.

Berita Harian expressed hope that the use of new technology will assist the police in tracing the killers of Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, who died more than a year ago.

Malaysia Nanban

raised the issue of making HIV tests compulsory for non-Muslims.

Tamil Nesan called for more safety measures in hillslope development projects.

Makkal Osai commented on the aftermath of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide.

Nanyang Siang Pau said the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue is a test of how transparent the government is.

Sin Chew Daily commented that the recent government change in Thailand was a good lesson to other politically-unstable developing countries.