Reader Patricia Tang calls on the government owned/controlled mainstream media to state their true colours as organs of the ruling parties if they are not prepared to be fair and balanced. I am happy to inform her that at least one mainstream newspaper has confirmed itself to be an Umno organ.

Recall the words of former high-flyer in the New Straits Times , Abdullah Ahmad: "There is no press freedom as often claimed by the West and its Malaysian surrogates. Media freedom is the freedom of its owners to advance their personal, political, class or communal interests (NST, 'On the Record')."

Interestingly, Abdullah again revealed the broadsheet to be totally under the Umno thumb when he was fired from his post by the very party he had served so proudly. Though many rejoiced at his going - citing that cliche about living and dying by the sword - I did not. The manner in which he went was too sad a reflection of the very disease afflicting our media.

I had forgotten a large part of my personal disappointment until the demonstration against police brutality took place on Sunday. The pathetic coverage in the print media that quoted only the police source jolted me back to reality.

What will it take to regain our public voices? Is the media council that is in the works our answer?