Bloggers must be responsible

Mavericksym blog introduces a website called bloggers united that has been launched to support the two bloggers being sued by a Malaysian newspaper for defamation. The support site is run by Susan Loone who says “Take heart my friends. Our movement is growing. This black dot in the history of blogshpere for Malaysians bloggers has a good side to it too. It brings us together. With numbers we can change something. Even if we don’t (yet), we have at least started the ball rolling:”

Any newspaper worth its salt must defend freedom of expression, not curb it, and as such the NST is behaving in a shameful manner. It is shameful because if what these men and their readers said were untrue, then the NST has all the power and facility to oppose it in the best way possible and that is by intelligently and clearly refuting what was said. For God’s sake, they are a newspaper. They are not some poor individual who had been defamed and has no other recourse but the law because he has no other option to defend himself.

[....} To pick this legal action is not about righting wrongs, it smacks of revenge. They claim that they are doing it to stop irresponsible bloggers. Now who on earth appointed the mighty NST to be the judge and executioner over what is responsible and what is not?

It is a trite fact that in this country freedom of expression is severely curbed, a fact that the NST should know about. To see a newspaper acting in this way is disheartening. They have the right to sue for defamation, that can’t be disputed. But the main reason for suing for defamation is because one’s reputation has been damaged.

It appears to me that whatever was said in those two blogs is not nearly as damaging as what the NST has done to themselves by playing bully.

- Azmi Sharom, UM law lecturer wrote to Malaysiakini


Bloggers must be responsible for what they write on the Internet as there are laws on defamation and sedition, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

The Prime Minister said these laws were enforceable and bloggers must bear in mind that they could not hide or take advantage of the Internet to do something that was against the law.

“They cannot hope to cover themselves or hide from the laws,” he told Malaysian journalists at the end of his three-day working visit here yesterday.

He said bloggers, just like newspaper journalists, must be responsible for what they wrote or risk facing legal action from others.

Abdullah was commenting on the legal action against bloggers Jeff Ooi and Ahirudin Attan by the New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP), its deputy chairman Datuk Kali-mullah Masheerul Hassan, Group Editor in Chief Datuk Hishamuddin Aun and former Group Editor Brenden John Pereira.

He raised the question of “what was freedom without responsibility,” saying that laws must be respected.



Bloggers Legal Fund: 4 Trustees identified

A muhibbah team portraying the spirit of Bangsa Malaysia, have given their consent to be the trustees for the Bloggers Legal Fund currently being set up as bloggers Jeff Ooi and Rocky are being dragged into the court by The NST and senior staff members of the newspaper in a defamation suit termed as Davids vs. Goliath.

The Star today suggested two bloggers, Datuk Marina Mahathir, the former Prime Minister’s daughter, and Datuk A. Kadir Jasin, former NSTP group editor-in-chief, as among those who will stand as the trustees.

A legal fund will be set up soon as a means to provide financial assistance for bloggers who face legal action such as the defamation suits taken by the New Straits Times Press (M) Sdn Bhd (NSTP) against bloggers Jeff Ooi and Ahirudin Attan.

Speaking at a press conference held by the Centre of Independent Journalism (CIJ) here, Ooi said the legal fund, an initiative by fellow bloggers, will be managed by those with a good reputation.

“The proceeds would not only be used to protect bloggers against suits but also to provide training workshops in the field of investigative journalism for bloggers – subject to the approval of the trustees.”

According to Ahirudin, possible trustees for the fund include the former Prime Minister’s daughter Marina Mahathir and former NSTP group editor-in-chief A. Kadir Jasin.

On Thursday, the court is to hear an inter-parte application for an injunction on Ahirudin, while Ooi’s inter-parte application hearing will be on Jan 30.

WHEN Rocky (Ahirudin Attan) started blogging, I dont think it was with any intention other than to try to continue to practice his trade, ie, to write, to report, to be a chronicler, to document.

He was a practicing journalist when he was writing for the print media for many years. And he saw that in blogging, he was able to continue sharpening his skills and utilising his considerable talents. He is, after all, a graduate of UiTM's School of Mass Communications and had served two newspaper groups before parading his prowes on the Net.

Soon after his few postings. I asked him whether he could earn a living by being a blogger. His response then was straight and simple: "No lah brother. It's the passion." wrote Ahmad A Talib.

I suppose this is what drives many of us to jot down our thoughts and, wherever possible, share them with others. The fact that many people have their own blogs could mean that blogging is getting more popular. Judging from the many comments posted as a show of reaction to one's articles and essays, it can also be concluded that blogging is gaining acceptance as a way of communication between author and his audience.

Rocky's blog has certainly attracted much attention. One may agree or disagree with his views, or the views of those who post comments on his blog. That his blog has attracted a legal suit would mean that many others who had not known about his blog would now get to know about it.

Rocky, I assume, may not be unhappy about this part of the suit, judging from the many reactions he received. And he would certainly be encouraged by the show of support he had been receiving, not the least by declaration of funds to be made available to him by friendly parties and sympathisers.

While the news of a proposed fund for bloggers may not necessarily embolden all bloggers, guys like Rocky and Jeff Ooi would feel that they are certainly not alone in their court battle, if it comes to that. As in traditional media, journalists, commentators and writers are forever testing the limits of freedom of expression, a daily task that is often fraught with risks and potential danger.

I'm quite sure the entire blogging community worldwide will follow proceedings closely. And in the process, the country's administration of cyber laws will be deeply scrutinised and be put to a test like never before. More than just Rocky's and Jeff Ooi's freedom is at stake here!

I'll walk you to the courtroom Din.


malaysia Abdullah bloggers sued