There has been a blog setup to give support to Jeff Ooi and Rocky Bru, two Malaysian bloggers who are being sued by the New Straits Times newspaper senior staff. You can read about the latest updates in the case as well as some opinions from other Malaysian bloggers.
A quote from one of the blog posts about this lawsuit:
The action by the NST and its officials is not simply an attempt at muzzling two prominent bloggers. It is also aimed at stifling critical public comment on key national issues, much of which is regularly purged from the mainstream media.
There’s talk of a fund to be setup to provide legal support for bloggers. I’m waiting for the details to be announced. So far, some people have called for a boycott of the NST newspaper. I don’t really see how that makes much of a difference. Anyway, I don’t subscribe to that paper.
This case is being watched really closely by people around the world. I hope they will do the right thing. Lim Kit Siang has also written about this issue, mentioning that a wrong decision in this case could give a “chilling effect”.
Personally, I’m concerned because this case will decide how much freedom of speech we Malaysians have. While I’m all against irresponsible spreading of lies and seeding discontent, I do not have a problem against bloggers who dare to tell the truth. I agree that bloggers do not exist in a legal vacuum, and we do need to follow the laws of our country. However powerful people can do anything they please to nobodies like me. It is entirely possible that I could be sued one day and forced to shut down my blog.
Anyway, let’s wait for the outcome of the case to see if any laws were broken, or if any rights were violated.
January 29, 2007 at 08:17
Hi there. Thanks for commenting on my blog Forever 17, come back anytime. I hope you liked it. =)
January 29, 2007 at 10:07
Hi Gaby. You’re welcome, thanks for visiting!