KUALA LUMPUR -- The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has proposed setting up a committee comprising Suhakam members and media representatives to monitor press freedom in the country, a news report said Saturday.

The committee can also help promote press freedom and the media's role in promoting the Human Rights culture in the country should be a part of it, said Suhakam Commissioner Hamdan Adnan, according to the ***Star Daily***.

He was commenting on an appeal from journalists for Suhakam to intervene in the plight of the press, DPA reported.

The government requires all media organizations to apply for yearly permits under the printing presses and publishers act. Rights Groups say the government's ability to suspend or cancel the permits inhibits press freedom.

Major newspaper groups in the country are also controlled by companies, or led by individuals linked to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's Barisan Nasional coalition.

Hamdan said the media should play the role of a watchdog, but faced problems doing so. The public had at one time sought alternative or political media for information as mainstream publications were judged as lacking credibility.

Online news sites are popular in Malaysia, but the government does not recognize them and does not give their employees press passes that would allow them to cover official events.