The journalist respond to Anwar Ibrahim's Blog posting about him...

To be fair, I shall post Baradan Kuppusamy's respond to a recent posting by Anwar Ibrahim in his blog entitled " Who is Baradan Kuppusamy?" . What disturbed me was the calling of this journalist a “shameful paid whore.” in that post. [See my earlier post on this matter entitled 'Anwar's behaviour towards journalist in his Blog is unacceptable' [http://charleshector.blogspot.com/2008/09/anwars-behaviour-towards-journalist-in.html]

A comment posted on Anwar Ibrahim's blog claims I am a whore in the pay of the government.

MCPX

Let me assure Malaysiakini and its readers that I am not a whore and never have been in the pay of anybody since I started work as a reporter in 1983. It is true I am paid for what I write and that's because I earn a living as a writer just like all you out there who earn a living doing whatever you do.

I have worked very hard at being an independent journalist all my life and in an increasingly difficult environment. Such posting shows how reactionary people can get went they are at the opposite ends of the political divide.

Anwar is not the blazing white knight in armour who is going to build a paradise. Neither is the other side all course and evil.

I am saddened that Anwar, who fought just filth all his life and is still fighting, sees it fit to let such filth appear on his blog.

Being a public figure, he is subject to criticism like everybody else. His ardent supporters should also be able to accept constructive criticism.

Finally I wish to state that I am firm believer in change and fervently hope a new Malaysia is born. I support Anwar's Reform Agenda to built a new and just Malaysia without race and discrimination.

If he deviates from that agenda, he is subject to criticism.

It is my job to criticise to enlighten readers and the general public and not run with the crowd and surrender to the flavour of the day.

So please people, don't call me a whore in the pay of anybody. - Malaysiakini (Letters section), 29/9/2008, I welcome criticism but...

Baradan Kuppusamy took the trouble to respond - But, if was I, I would not even bother to waste time responding to such allegations. It will be a waste of time especially when it is not true - when there is so much left to do...

In one of the comments posted in my earlier posts, someone also alleged that PKR do ban some media from their press conferences. The name of the paper given was 'Utusan Malaysia'.

There should ne no media banned from any press/media conference. We were certainly not happy when Malaysiakini was 'banned' in its earlier days from some of the BN government press conferences... and it saddens me if PKR, even before it comes into power as part of the Pakatan Rakyat Federal government is already doing this.... I hope that this allegation that journalist from certain media agencies are banned from PKR press conferences is not true...