The editor of the government's newly launched website Buletin Malaysia

said that it was created not with the intention to attack 'anti-establishment' websites but to clarify issues and portray Malaysia in a positive light.

"Here we don't criticise reformasi or anti-establishment websites but we will try to create a writing style that will allow thinking minds to make logical conclusions," Jamilah Taib told malaysiakini in a telephone interview yesterday.

A project of the National Security Division of the Prime Minister's Department, Buletin Malaysia was officially launched by Chief Secretary to the government Samsudin Osman last Friday.

It was created to be an "E-truth authenticator" website, which is one of the programmes of the National Information Technology Council.

The website will complement the role of the Internet Response Group committee which involves all ministries, whose function is to monitor malicious Internet reports on Malaysia and counter them in Buletin Malaysia .

"I hope the contents of this news portal will be accepted in good faith and that it can clear confusion created by those who have ill intentions against the government," he said in a New Straits Times report on Saturday.

In his speech, extracts of which were published on Buletin Malaysia , he said it is the government's responsibility to ensure that information and communication technology is not misused to poison the minds of the people or incite them into hatred or rebellion.

Exclusive interviews

The site was originally launched two years ago by former government chief secretary Halim Ali.

It stated its aim was to "meet the need and demand for impartial and truly independent news".

"We were not too happy during the first two years of our operation but now we are getting a good response from our readers," according to Jamilah, who has had stints with Bernama , TV3 and RTM.

Buletin Malaysia has webcast facilities and offers interviews with ministers and other government officials in Bahasa Malaysia. It will be available in English in six months to come.

"We are training our writers to become journalists and to get exclusive interviews with ministers. We also try to be more analytical," Jamilah said.

The website is run by 11 staff members.

Repressive laws on the printing presses have kindled a growth of web publications whose existence are assured by the guarantee of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the Internet would not be censored, in line with the Bill of Guarantees of the Multimedia Super Corridor.

However, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim said last year that the government will "unleash another set of missiles" on Internet publications that 'threaten' the country's security.

In yet another twist, parliamentary secretary to the Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry, Chia Kwang Chye said earlier this year that there were to plans to control or to regulate the Internet.