I refer to Malaysiakini report Malaysiakini wins top media brand award.

Initially, when I started to show interest in Malaysiakini, it was an approach with of a skeptic as I wondered if this will be a fair and just platform to voice our comments and opinions and not just another flash in the pan.

Eventually, my doubts turned into appreciation as Malaysiakini has proven itself to be trustworthy and open-minded media, allowing a broad perspective of views and commentaries in respect to current and important affairs.

The mainstream media (MSM) appears to be bound by a strict code of biased reporting and thus do not seem to present a cross-section of information flow though it is permitted by law to allow freedom of speech as guaranteed by the federal constitution.

On the contrary, Malaysiakini freely expresses all views irrespective of political affiliation. The ensuing debate by readers after these articles are published gives an interesting insight as to how people react to the main issues at hand and the concerns expressed therein.

Unfortunately, the MSM has to toe certain lines and their journalists - no matter how talented and brilliant they are coupled with their own repertoire of reporting styles - cannot freely and willingly express their views.

No doubt Malaysiakini has to also follow a stringent set of rules as laid out by the authorities but it still gives an opportunity for a clear and precise presentation of the political scenario as it exists

today in this country. This certainly adds credence to the journalistic term so widely used and quite frequently abused ie, ‘without fear or favour’.

Of course, there is always room for improvement and I am sure Malaysiakini keeps working in this direction to further enhance this important service provided to the public which otherwise would remain the exclusive domain of the one-sided MSM.

One instance of immediate news reporting that I particularly like to draw attention to was the last general elections where the staff of Malaysiakini despite numerous obstacles and difficulties placed before them, were still able to provide accurate information of the counting of the votes in progress while the state-controlled mass media took almost a lifetime to relay the news when they found out things were not going in their favour.

Malaysiakini, please continue this good and arduous work and you can always rest assured of our continued support. But do take care to not let complacency to set in.