Blogger Ahirudin Attan files statement of defence
I have been following the suit brought by New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd and four others against Blogger Ahirudin Attan with deep concern.
Statement of defence was filed yesterday by Blogger Ahirudin Attan. Ahirudin Attan is a former Malay Mail editor. In his statement of defence, he denied the articles in his blog were defamatory to the NSTP, its deputy chairman, group editor-in-chief, chief executive officer and Brendan Pereira.
I hope ultimately justice will be meted out to Blogger Ahirudin Attan’s advantage. To me, a humble fellow blogger, this case worries me. Any blogger would have a big problem facing a suit by NSTP or any other organization with almost unlimited financial resources to pay legal bills. Whatever the ultimate findings of the judge on this case, it would have weighed heavily on the blogging community and resulted in self-censorship of most bloggers.
It is almost a David vs Goliath case. On the same breath, I hope the government will consider the call by The National Union of Journalists Malaysia President, Norila Mohd Daud to acknowledge the existence of Internet citizen reporting and blogging as a new media for disseminating information.
