his braveness in fighting for justice in the real sense. And he needs
contributions so that he can continue fighting for just causes. If you
read this article, you shall notice that Malaysia Today has
contributors who attack all parties and even Anwar himself which is a
good sign, unlike Malaysia Kini that tends to be the view of the
opposition only.
Yesterday, Friday the 13th of August 2010, was Malaysia Today's
birthday. Malaysia Today was launched six years ago on the 13th of
August 2004, which happened to also be a Friday. As my 'birthday
article' I would like to rehash what I wrote back in 2004 soon after
Malaysia Today hit the scene. I have not made any changes or
amendments to what can be considered my 'mission and vision
statement'.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Malaysia Today: the Free Malaysia Campaign
On 2nd September 2004, the day Anwar Ibrahim was freed from jail, many
came up to ask me what I would now do with my time. Since Anwar was
now free, they reckoned, there would no longer be any need for a Free
Anwar Campaign.
True, Anwar is now free, and it took us six years of blood, sweat and
tears to achieve this, and true, now there is no longer any need for a
Free Anwar Campaign, but that was only the first stage of the fight
which started in 1998, I explained.
Now that Stage One is finished, we need to move into Stage Two. Anwar
is now free so we no longer need a Free Anwar Campaign. But Malaysia
is not yet free so we need to now launch a Free Malaysia Campaign. And
that would take longer than the six years it took to free Anwar. It
could easily take 60 years, or longer, a campaign that would go on
long after we are all dead and gone from this world.
Shouting 'Free Malaysia' slogans or to say we have launched a Free
Malaysia Campaign is fine but pointless if it is mere rhetoric. We
need to put theory into practice, put our money where our mouth is. A
free Malaysia would never be achieved until and unless we have the
fundamentals of a free Malaysia, the aqidah (foundation) of a free
society if you wish, and that would be the freedom to say and write
what you believe in without fear or favour -- in other words, a free
media.
And, with that in mind, I launched 'Malaysia Today: your source of
independent news' -- which I actually launched on Friday 13th of
August 2004, around two weeks before Anwar walked free. For all
intents and purposes, Malaysia Today is a Free Malaysia Campaign that
took off where the Free Anwar Campaign ended.
Malaysia Today, if you wish, is pushing the envelope. It is testing
how far Malaysia under its new Prime Minister can honour, respect and
tolerate free speech. Malaysia Today stands on the invisible boundary
of the Sedition Act and the Internal Security Act, two laws that were
created merely to stifle free speech and dissent.
I, as the Editor and owner of Malaysia Today, face the risk of
prosecution under the many laws available to the government to clamp
down on dissent, or even detention without trial in the event they
fail to find a suitable law to get you under. But I am prepared to
face that risk and suffer the consequences of my actions if what we
gain in return is more freedom of expression.
When I launched Malaysia Today I promised no censorship. No one, how
unreasonable or stupid his or her comments may be, will be barred from
sounding out in Malaysia Today. And there will be no editing, and to
ensure we achieve all this, we started a blog where readers can post
their comments directly, bypassing the editor or webmaster, and where
they will be free to say whatever they want, the way they want to.
I also invited some columnists to write fulltime for Malaysia Today --
maybe an article or two a week -- and I promised them they would be
free to write whatever they felt like and that I would not dictate
what they can and cannot do. They, in fact, blog their pieces direct.
Kirdatun Borhan is one of our more vocal columnists who attacks
anything that walks and talks. Lately, Anwar Ibrahim became the brunt
of her attacks. When she attacked Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, or the PM's son-in-
law, Khairy Jamaluddin, everyone applauded. But when her attacks
shifted to Anwar many became upset.
I knew this would happen but I just stood by and let it pass for many
reasons. First, of course, was as explained above -- the reason why I
gave birth to Malaysia Today. The second being I wanted the opposition
supporters and leaders to feel what the ruling party has endured these
last six years.
The main argument to oppose Kirdatun's attacks on Anwar is that she
can attack Anwar if she wants to but only if she reveals her real
identity and not hide behind her purdah (veil). Since 1998 we have had
more than 100 anonymous 'Reformasi' websites mushrooming (and closing
down after awhile) whose only purpose was to attack ex-PM Dr Mahathir
Mohamad, Umno and Barisan Nasional. None of these webmasters revealed
who they are. They all hid behind 'veils'.
Did we scream and shout that they can only attack Dr Mahathir if they
reveal themselves and not hide behind their computer screens? Why the
double standards?
We must be able to take the medicine we dish out. We attack Dr
Mahathir, Pak Lah, and anything related to the ruling party even if
they do the right thing, but we cannot accept anyone criticising us
and give all sorts of excuses such as because we don't know who they
are.
Who are the webmasters of the more than 100 Reformasi websites and the
hundreds of 'ghost' writers who contribute 'hot news' to these
websites? Why are they also not brave enough to reveal themselves? Is
it because they are scared of getting detained under the Internal
Security Act? Was it not Anwar who said if you are scared of the risks
then do not talk about the struggle?
It is time the opposition got a taste of its own medicine. It is time
the opposition feels what the ruling party has endured these last six
years. It is time the opposition realised it is not that perfect after
all, and in many instances may not really be that better than the
ruling party. It is time we made the opposition realise that compared
to the ruling party it acts like spoilt schoolchildren.
A free Malaysia will only be realised when there is freedom of
expression. Before we achieve freedom in other areas we must first
achieve freedom of speech. If not, then true freedom will never be
realised. And not only the ruling party but the opposition too must be
knocked on the head until they understand, respect and honour this.
Kirdatun wrote her final article last week. She has asked me, in no
uncertain terms, to close down her column this week. But I refuse to
do so. If she refuses to write anymore then I will just leave her
column blank. The blog will still be there for anyone who wishes to
comment and debate.
Incidentally, I met Anwar Ibrahim at a Hari Raya open house on
Saturday afternoon and he expressed his sadness at Kirdatun's column
being retired. He felt we can never have the moral right to accuse the
government of not respecting the right to free speech if we cannot
first tolerate minor criticisms and comments against us.
So, Kirdatun, the ball is at your feet. Let us separate the trees from
the forest. The issue is no longer about Anwar. Anwar, for all intents
and purposes, was just the symbol of the need for reforms. Now that
Anwar is free we need to move on to a bigger agenda, the freeing of
Malaysia. If, in the fight to free Malaysia, we need to step on
everyone's toes, then so be it.
Umno supporters hate Malaysia Today. The Democratic Action Party (DAP)
supporters hate Malaysia Today. The Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS)
supporters hate Malaysia Today. The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)
supporters hate Malaysia Today. The Anwarists hate Malaysia Today. The
Islamists hate Malaysia Today. The Malay Supremacists hate Malaysia
Today. (I hope all the other websites hate Malaysia Today as well).
That shows we are doing the right thing. So let us not stop here.
There are still many segments of Malaysian society who are yet to hate
us so much work still needs to be done. Please stay with us until we
can get all 24 million Malaysians to hate us. Then you and I can
happily retire for we would have completed the task of shaking the
very foundation of free speech.
Set as favorite
Comments (56)Add Comment
...
written by Semuaok, August 15, 2010 12:44:40
It take UMNO 50+ years to grow into a monster and it take you 6 years
to tear them apart.
You go Pet
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written by mikewang, August 15, 2010 11:46:26
Happy Birthday Malaysia today.
Even with the said 60% truth in the news and gossips you gave us, it's
100% better than the deliberate lies of the main stream media.
May you continue to keep Malaysia informed.
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written by SoundMan, August 15, 2010 11:18:28
Heartiest Congratulations MalaysiaToday ! Great site and how it makes
the gomen trembles !
Great work Raja Petra Kamarudin & of course Marina your blessed better
half.. smilies/kiss.gif
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written by ibabonma, August 15, 2010 10:44:25
The last time Malaysians had their freedoms to express their
dissatisfaction with our government and Umno was during the various
public rallies held by the oppositions during Election Days. They were
held mostly in the open spaces or the public field without any
restriction. Police permits were mere formalities then.
However, just before the 1978 general election, such freedom was
withdrawn and public rallies were to be held only at close doors, in
the community halls depending on its availabilities, however only at
the pleasure of the police. Unlike earlier, where a section of the
national newspapers were reserved for the opposition, Umno/BN then
controlled the media and the oppositions were left mute.
Now we have IT and, most particularly, we have Malaysia Today that not
only allows us to undress those bastards and idiots in Umno but also
to make them listen to us and/or the rakyat. Sad indeed, since most of
the while we cannot talk to Umno/BN with much brains, we resorted to
rattling them with our curses and fcuking damnations but who's to be
blamed? The result is obvious, that enables us to chunk a huge opening
in its membership listing for the opposition's consumption. Behold! …
Anwar is going to Putra Jaya after the 13th general election while I
and many others are going to the airports to stop those Umno/BN goons
from leaving this country.
RPK, within this context you are a new born Malaysian wira/hero and
Happy Birthday Malaysia Today.
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written by Middle Path, August 15, 2010 09:12:16
Happy Birthday to all.
Malaysia Today is Peoples Blog so everyone is celebrating their
birthday.
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written by SadMalaysian101, August 15, 2010 04:36:03
Dear RPK
Thanks for your speedy response. Much appreciated. RM 20 a month
sounds reasonable to me as an investment for a better Malaysia.
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written by Prince of India, August 15, 2010 01:36:53
BRO. Take care THE TRUTH MUST PREVAIL ,PERJUANGAN KITA
DILANJUTKAN .YOUR WORD TO ME.
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written by pixieface, August 15, 2010 01:33:53
Happy bday, MT. God bless you and your dear family, RPK.. Ever since I
log onto MT, it has been my daily
ritual for some years now. MT is the eyes and ears for us in malaysia.
RPK, I WISH YOU LIVE A LONG AND PROSPEROUS LIFE, IN ORDER FOR MALAYSIA
TO BE RESTORED
TO ITS FORMER GLORY.
THANK YOU MT AND RPK, YOU ARE OUR HERO.
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written by panca, August 14, 2010 23:56:18
Happy Belated Birthday Malaysia-TODAY yesterday!!! Nothing stops the
truth and right to speak against distorted news in this open world,
making it the most important alternative media in a country where not
only the right to speak becomes illegal, even the right to assemble is
prohibited by the tyrannical law of her country.
Happy Malaysia-TODAY!b
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written by onnetline, August 14, 2010 23:56:05
All Malaysians should be proud to have Malaysia Today and more
especially you, RPK.
On my family's behalf, we thank you both greatly !
Happy belated Birthday ............. Malaysia Today !
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written by Motherchell, August 14, 2010 23:28:19
Yes Pete, 2nd stage it is!! --The Freedom you gave all in the MT space
and with the price your family pays everyday-- we are ignited with the
resolve to bring about the change that has long never been ventured
into .You secured respect and the right to freedom of expression. You
have inculcated fear into the Malaysian tyrants who masqueraded as
white pigeons with the truth of what they are really worth ! Thank you
and God Bless you both always Pete and Marina!
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