Veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin has claimed there is an attempt by Putrajaya to purchase or control news portals.

The former News Straits Times group editor in chief said he was informed by the owner of a news portal that the move is being initiated by the person who helms Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s media and propaganda campaign.

Kadir, however, did not mention names.

"I was told that he (the propaganda chief) has now joined hands with a 'mercenary' writer who has fled abroad for the attempt to buy or control independent news portals such as Malaysiakini , Malaysian Insider and Free Malaysia Today .

"The news portal owner told me the attempt is part of the initiative by Najib's camp to win the hearts and minds of the people," he said in a blog posting today.

Kadir also noted how Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi praised and expressed gratitude to Umno cybertroopers during the party annual assembly last November.

Now, the veteran editor claimed Umno wants the reach to extend beyond the party and Malay electorate.

"Talk among media practitioners is that one news portal owned by a Chinese tycoon has kowtowed to Ahmad Zahid while the owner of another turned down a lucrative financial aid offer," he alleged.

Kadir said the new initiative was a result of the mainstream media as well as Umno and BN websites losing its audience.

He noted that the circulation of the Umno-owned broadsheet Utusan Malaysia has been on a steep decline.

Kadir claimed that he knew the person behind the propaganda campaign more than a decade ago and often had lunch with him.

"Back then, I respected him as a successful and well-mannered young Malay professional.

"Now, he is said to be close to Najib and has become so powerful that mainstream media editors are forced to kneel before him," he said.