Special Announcement!

Personally, I enjoy reading many of his highly entertaining articles even though I do not agree with him on everything. His blog has not turned me into a monster at all nor corrupted my soul. My close relationships with all people regardless of race, colour and creed remain strong. None of the honest opinionated postings offend me at all.

The Malaysian government (Or UMNO) should realise that bloggers and those readers who access the blogosphere to read the blogs are not uneducated trouble-makers but are weary folks of government propaganda and enthusiastic seekers of truth.

I believe, in this day and age, the best solution to defend against what the government claims are 'untruths' and 'lies' is to allow the mainstream press the total freedom to report and write on everything without threatening the papers' publishers' survival through easily abused draconian laws.

Raja Petra, like Nathaniel, courageously identified himself in his blog and his many postings. By acting against him, I am sure there will be many, many more nameless Malaysian blogs out here and their views and commentaries may be even harsher and radical than those at present... and the cat and mouse game continues....

Special Announcement!!

Press statement/Letter to the Editor by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee on UMNO Police Report Against Raja Petra

I am writing in defense of Raja Petra Abdullah and his commentaries in his website, Malaysia-Today.net. This website contains some of the finest and most incisive political analyses and is simply without peer – whether as a whistle blowing or expose revealing resource or as a barometer of the pessimism and cynicism that many Malaysians feel when given freedom to express their views and commentaries on the problems and ills that beset our nation. Whilst some of the comments that are contributed by the website’s considerable following – especially on racial and religious issues – may appear over-exuberant, they are no more than the honest - if sometimes – passionate views and sentiments of our own citizens who write in precisely because they love the country and want it to be a better place.

Raja Petra’s own writings have not only been consistently factual, balanced and temperate. In his investigation of the many follies in our nation, he is providing that model of fearless, patriotic and ethical journalism that can help bring about higher standards of governance and behavior, especially from our leaders.

A fair-minded government should not for one moment entertain - let alone pursue - the false charges that have been leveled against him by UMNO. I hope good sense will prevail - and Raja Petra and Malaysia Today can be allowed to continue unhindered in their good work aimed at achieving a better Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, 24 July 2007.