I read with interest malaysiakini 's projected revenue which sounds optimistic considering where it came from this year ([#1] M'siakini registers marginal loss for first financial year [/#], Feb 27). After all, it's too controversial to attract but the daring fringe advertising companies, even with its good hit rate. My advice is to look at core constituents who would be supportive - basically its readers. Here is something worth considering:

1) Set up a means for readers to pay for what they want. Either by running a personal/classified ad for readers or just a plain contribution fund. A fund might be problematic as the government would come down hard on the website. I myself would like to give a bit of money from time to time to support malaysiakini .

2) Consider a Chinese translation of malaysiakini , at least for advertising only. There are now translation softwares available that can help this effort - talk to octopus.com. The bulk of corporate money that would dare touch you are small Chinese businessmen. You need to get to these folks.

Behind the online daily's high hit rate are quality readers. It is just that for many reasons they like to remain anonymous. You should take advantage of this.