The Internet is today what the newspapers and official media were yesterday. We are often told, though, that the Internet cannot be trusted.

The same can be said of newspapers in Malaysia today. They are the public relations arm of the Barisan Nasional (BN). The laws in force do not allow them any other function. Look at how the print and electronic media behave during general elections or by-elections.

There is no discussion of the issues that matter, only a BN slant to it. It does not matter which newspaper one reads, it has the viewpoint of its owner - but that it is from the BN, especially of its leaders, is not in doubt.