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

Star, New Straits Times and theSun all highlighted Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s statement that he will ensure a smooth transition to his deputy Najib Abdul Razak after the Umno party polls in December. He will also defend the Umno presidency.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian also highlighted Abdullah’s remarks on the Umno transition plan.

Utusan front-paged another report quoting PAS and PKR leaders as saying they will negotiate with Umno leaders on issues concerning the Malay interest.

Chinese newspapers

Nanyang Siang Pau front-paged Abdullah’s statement on the transition plan, as well as PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s statement that opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat is ready to form federal government.

Editorial

NST has asked Umno members to stop feeling sorry for themselves and to stand strong, get down to work and regain the initiative. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going. That’s the Umno way”, the paper says.

Utusan wants the government to support the upgrading of the Malayan Railway system after the government said it has not made any decision on the Malaysia-Singapore bullet-train project.

Berita Harian also says the bullet-train project should not be a priority now and that it will only encourage Malaysians to frequent Singapore, which may hinder efforts to develop the southern economic region.

Nanyang welcomes Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin’s statement that the Universities and University Colleges Act will be reviewed, but he was reserved on how far the restrictive provisions would be changed.