Information and Arts Minister Lee Yock Suan said he will prompt the government-appointed media watchdog, the Publications Advisory Committee, or PAC, to be more watchful over local papers.

"I intend to activate the PAC to monitor the newspapers more closely and to report regularly on trends in reporting," Mr Lee said in a speech at a conference for Asian newspaper publishers.

Several new newspapers have hit Singapore newsstands following the government's liberalisation of media licensing laws last year.

In the country's parliament earlier this month, lawmakers criticised Singapore media for its increasing their focus on sex, gore and other sensational topics as competition heats up between papers.

"Intense competition has added a certain buzz and dynamism to the domestic media environment," Lee said. "Many more Singaporeans appear to be reading the newspapers."

Singapore media "need to show by their actions that they uphold high standards of journalism and civic responsibility," Lee said.

Newspapers and broadcasters in Singapore are generally considered to be pro-government. The country's leaders have a long history of regarding the Western mass media - which often call the country authoritarian - with wariness and even outright contempt.

Foreign publications have in past years been sued by top leaders or had their circulation curbed in Singapore after criticising the country's government. Films and TV programs are thoroughly censored, and home satellite TV antennae are outlawed.

Mr Lee said on Mar 28 that the Internet and other forms of rapidly developing communications technology are quickly exposing Singaporeans to a flood of uncontrollable information.

"We want to ensure that no one is deprived of any news or information that he may need," Mr Lee said. "At the same time, it is important also that in the midst of all the cacophony a Singaporean point of view gets across to our local audience."

Singapore newspapers and broadcasters "should continue to focus on issues of importance to Singaporeans, while striving to be more attractive to their customers," he said.