Malaysian ruling party to reach out to bloggers
Updated
In a major change of policy triggered by shock election losses, the Malaysian government says it will reach out to bloggers.
Dropping earlier threats of arrest, the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition now says it wants to listen to dissenting voices.
The information minister, Ahmad Shabery Cheek, says he is keen to meet bloggers and build a bridge for a two-way dialogue between the government and people.
But prominent bloggers have questioned the commitment of the government, which until recently had accused them of spreading lies and threatened severe punishment including detentions without trial.
Blogs are an alternative source of news in Malaysia where mainstream media is mostly part-owned by parties in the ruling coalition.
