Fed-up with what they see as biased and distorted reporting, a group of concerned Malaysians has launched a campaign urging the public to boycott newspapers ahead of a general election widely expected in March.

The print media are largely controlled by parties in the ruling coalition parties or business interests close to them. Already pro-establishment in their coverage, newspapers usually turn into full-blown propaganda tools of the ruling coalition during the election campaign period, say critics.

The call for a ‘Paper-less Tuesday’ - calling on the public to not to buy once a week for a start -was launched last Monday by a working committee under the ‘People's Parliament’ initiative. It provides an avenue for cyber-activism and space "for constant gripers to go beyond venting and instead set and shape the reform agenda, and thereafter to act on their resolutions".