I refer to Malaysiakini report 10 tumultous years: Malaysiakini was there .

Heartiest congratulations to Malaysiakini on this special milestone. Indeed, it has come a long way to be what it is today. Its staff who are truly committed to an ideal of creating a better Malaysia for all is the main reason Malaysiakini can be what it is today.

Credit must go to them. I have been a fan of this news portal for many years and have followed its progress. It was not plain sailing all the way. Being a news media committed to telling the truth and nothing but the truth, it is bound to offend the authority who are bent on hearing only praises and flatteries.

Yes, the truth hurts and Malaysiakini writes only true reports. But the government abhors the truth. Many a time its editor and staff were hauled up or detained by the Special Branch or the police over their truthful reporting. Computers were confiscated too. But as the truth usually prevails, they could find no charges against them.

Despite all these adversities, the staff soldiered on much to their own peril. On this score, Malaysians are very much indebted to Malaysiakini without which many cases of abuse of power and corruption by the higher-ups would have been covered up.

It is Malaysiakini that reported Lingam tape scandal and it is Malaysiakini , too, that published retired judge NH Chan's analyses of some of the federal court judgments.

Malaysiakini indeed opens up the eyes and ears of poor Malaysians who are mostly fed with propaganda from the government-controlled news media. A prophet is never appreciated at home, and that is what Malaysiakini is to our leaders.

It is condemned by our ministers and politicians for spreading rumours and false reporting, which was never the case. Demonstrations were staged in front of the office to intimidate the staff. But these efforts could not break the their resolve.

Though condemned and unappreciated by our local leaders, it unwittingly won appreciation of none other than the great statesman, Lee Kuan Yew. Yes, it is Lee Kuan Yew who commended the good quality of Malaysiakini reports and feature articles and analyses.

If credit can be gotten from such a great man from afar, why are our leaders so blind to so much valuable information which more often than not is constructive criticism?

We are waiting for that day when some of our leaders can concur with Lee in his favourable appraisal of Malaysiakini . Until then, let us hope that Malaysiakini will further improve on its reporting without harassment from the authority.