Visitors to Malaysia would be bewildered by the wide variety of newspapers, TV channels and radio stations that cater to most of the country's several language groups.

But as reality sinks in, it will become apparent that, despite the deceptively wide range, mainstream media is becoming consolidated in the hands of a small number of privately-owned conglomerates with close links to the political establishment.

And amidst this small number, one media giant looms large over the others, quietly gobbling up television and radio stations as it tries to maximise its advertising revenue and overwhelm the competition.