I was greatly encouraged by R Sharif's effort

to convince me of the existence of the other side of any story. Such sincere efforts must not go to waste and I feel sure that R Sharif would be educating RTM and Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin of the need to present the other side of the coin when it comes to programmes like " Gerhana Di Kelantan " and similar fairy tales. Unless he feels that somehow certain media are exempt from this timeless adage which he seemed intent o­n reminding us.

For R Sharif's information, the main reason I read malaysiakini is to get the other side of the many stories I read in the mainstream press. For example, it would be nice to read in the mainstream press similar letters like R Sharif's; extolling the Australian police for doing their duty when dealing with International Trade and Industries Minister Rafidah Aziz, or the Americans when they asked Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to take off his shoes. As a matter of comparison, R Sharif's letter is almost similarly applicable for these two examples. Just switch the facts of the cases but use the same arguments, and voila, another side to the stories.

So if 10 hours of being forced to be off-line is not censorship by his reckoning, then I suppose Malaysians shouldn't have been unduly provoked by what happened to Rafidah and Pak Lah.

But some of us were upset. It is because of the implication of these acts - whether it was sniffing dogs, barefeet VIP or removing computers. They all border o­n high-handedness, insensitivity or plain bullying to further a hidden agenda perhaps?

At least R Sharif made an effort to argue the points, albeit o­nly for selective cases of his preference and convenience. Umno Youth refuse to debate at all! I guess a debate involves presenting the merits and demerits of an argument to win over public opinion. More or less like an open tender for contracts and projects, where the best bid wins o­n merit. Well, after being so used to winning by closed tender and negotiated tender in their business deals all these while, perhaps these budding businessmen-cum-politicians have now lost their skills to compete in an open market or in this case, an open debate.

In all, R Sharif's letter is the strongest letter I have read here in support of the need for malaysiakini to continue its role, even though that might have not have been his intention. Thank you anyway, sir!