This paper outlines an approach to produce a ptototype wordnet system for malay semi-automatically, by using bilingual dictionary data and resources provided by the oroginal english wordnet system. Senses from an english-malay biligual dictionary were first aligned to english word net senses, and a set of ,malay synsets were then derived. Semantic relations between the english wordnet synsets, using the aligned synsets as a guide. A small malay wordnet prototype with 12429 noun synsets and 5805 verb synsets was thus produced. This prototype is a first step towars building a full-fledged malay wordnet.