In response to Ong Chew Thor's letter about him being Unhappy to pay for Malaysiakini's news , I think his view is shortsighted.

I don't like paying for malaysiakini 's news either but editor Steven Gan is right — electronic media does not sell and it costs lots of money to run it.

So, I will give malaysiakini basic support via subscription in the hope that others will as well so that we will continue to have a different view on the news. If malaysiakini were a printed publication, I would be happier, but I realise this country's problems with publication of views.

It's really too bad the leaders of this country cannot trust their citizens with the basic freedom of being able to read what someone else has written — as long as it is not filth or incites the public to unlawful action.

If printed media were libelous, contained fabrications or were inflammatory, there are good laws to handle those issues well within the basic rights expected by most people.