The quest has begun to determine whether Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin was telling the truth when ordering editors not to play up negative news because Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's pledge to 'hear the truth' does not apply to the media.

Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang in a statement over the weekend had given Abdullah 24 hours to clarify whether he had indeed ordered Zainuddin to issue such a directive to the media.

Last week, Zainuddin ( right ) said the PM's often repeated pledges of 'listening to the truth' were restricted to government officials and Barisan Nasional leaders so as to assist the cabinet in making decisions.

Based on an account by a well-placed source, Zainuddin said Abdullah's ( photo ) pledge did not mean that the media have the green light to practice unrestrained reporting because certain topics were considered highly sensitive.

He also said he would be issuing advice periodically on such matters and that he had assumed the new role on the premier's instructions.

Lim said he feels compelled to pose a question in Parliament when it reconvenes on Oct 22, since the premier has neither clarified nor corrected Zam's assertion.

"Does Abdullah want Zainuddin to be his 'Minister for Truth' a la George Orwell's '1984', exemplar of 'doublespeak' and 'doublethink' in his administration?" he asked.

"Is Malaysia on the occasion of Abdullah's fourth anniversary as PM heading in the direction of the 'doublethink and doublespeak' starting with the directive to the editors his pledge to 'hear the truth' does not apply to the press or the public at large?"

(Orwell's novel portrayed a totalitarian country led by Big Brother who uses brainwashing and re-education in a society through the methodology of 'doublethink' and 'doublespeak'.

There is a Ministry of Peace which concerns itself with war, the Ministry of Truth with lies, the Ministry of Love with torture and Ministry of Plenty with starvation.)

'He knew'

Lim was of the view that Abdullah's 'doublespeak' was the reason why his pledge to eradicate corruption has resulted in worse corruption over the past four years

"Why on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Merdeka, when there should be a greater sense of national unity and oneness, are prevailing sentiments in the reverse?" he asked.

According to Lim, Zainuddin did not deny the veracity of the Malaysiakini report when met at premier's Hari Raya open house at the Putra World Trade Centre on Saturday.

"When I shook hands with him, wishing him 'Selamat Hari Raya', I remarked that he has become the spokesman for 'the truth that is not the truth'. Zam knew I was referring to the report (but) did not deny the veracity of the report."

The report also stated that chief secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan had urged media organisations to avoid emphasising news deemed negative against the government - such as the 2006 Auditor-General's report - at a separate meeting.