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Malaysiakini CEO and co-founder Premesh Chandran wrote a thought-provoking Op-Ed on possible media behaviour during the coming general election, titled: Blogs and boundaries of responsibility.

Firstly, the government via the powers of the internal security minister (currently the prime minister) has the absolute discretion to grant or deny a license to print a newspaper. He has total immunity from the judicial process and hence malaysiakini’s application in September 2002 to print a weekly newspaper gathers dust on his desk, as he has refused to make a decision either way.

As expected, such power has not been exercised neutrally. [...] Those (media organisations) outside the direct control of political parties, are owned by close allies or subdued by the threat of losing their annual publishing license.

Ownership and control has rewarded the government with reduced level of accountability and a high degree of impunity for their actions. Take for example the hotly contested issue of toll concessions. Such concessions are awarded without open tender. And the legal agreements are kept secret. Toll rates continue to increase and attempts by the public to question the government are met with deafness. The police refused to allow a peaceful public demonstration by the opposition and civil society in Cheras, leading to 21 arrests and four having to seek medical attention. Oil prices have increased but the government has refused to disclose the accounts of national oil company Petronas. Similarly, water prices have escalated with the government refusing to make public key documents.

The ruling coalition is also preparing to contest the next election. The propaganda role of the media in promoting the ruling parties that own them and running down the opposition cannot be underestimated. Propaganda works best when alternative news perspectives are kept from the public eye. Blogs and independent media such as malaysiakini pierce through the veil, and offer a different picture of reality.

Some time, sooner rather than later, you'll have to make a distinction of what Prem had said, though the PM said yesterday he hasn't found the inspiration to call for a general election just yet.