Malaysian blogger denies writing anti-government articles

A Malaysian blogger sued by a newspaper for defamation denied Thursday that his articles were anti-government.

The government-linked New Straits Times Press (NSTP) filed a legal suit against Ahirudin Attan and another blogger, Jeff Ooi, over a series of items critical of government policy that were published on their sites last year.

"I don't write anti-government articles. (Articles) critical of the government, yes," Ahirudin told AFP.

Malaysia's high court on Thursday allowed an adjournment to April 2 to hear Ahirudin's application to strike out the suit after NSTP's lawyers amended the statement of claims.

Ahirudin's lawyer Edmund Bon told reporters his client may decide to withdraw his application to strike out the case after considering the amendments.

If the application is withdrawn, the next step would be to hear the NSTP's application for an interim injunction essentially aimed at stopping Ahirudin and removing the postings deemed defamatory from his website, Bon told AFP.

Last month, the newspaper operated by New Straits Times Press reached an agreement with both bloggers to refrain from publishing articles or posting comments related to the unprecedented lawsuit.

Malaysian bloggers and media watchdogs have criticised the defamation lawsuit against Ahirudin, who writes the "Rocky's Bru" blog, and Ooi, who blogs "Screenshots".

They say the legal action will stifle free expression in Malaysia where the media is already tightly controlled.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has defended the suit saying the Internet was not exempt from defamation laws.

Fellow blogger Ooi's strike-out application will be heard on March 6.


From Rocky : " Me, anti-(Malaysian) government? "

I am anti-corruption, anti-racism, anti-war, anti-apartheid, anti-child abuse, anti-crime, anti-spying, anti-plagiarism.
I am not anti-government.
I am not pro-government, either. I am supportive of a good, efficient government. I am supportive of a government that is anti-corruption, anti-racism, anti-apartheid, anti-child abuse, anti-crime, anti-spying, and anti-plagiarism.
- Rocky

Malaysia bloggers sued walk with us