First let me say that malaysiakini is supported not o­nly because it is an "alternative voice" but also because what you, your writers and readers (including Petrof) put forth rings, many a time, true. And truth, for the long haul, is always the good moral compass, and hopes spring eternal that ultimately it will triumph over lies and falsehoods to bring everyone to a higher organisation of thought and behaviour.

Truth however pays a price as recent events show. Reference is made here to the dangers and risks of speaking the truth.

In particular, I refer to what you said about "journalistic ethics o­n the protection of confidentiality of sources" in relation to letter writer Petrof when requested by the police ( Malaysiakini o­nline again

).

Journalistic ethics is principled and good when it concerns print media reporting o­n (say) a Malaysian Watergate. Sources are protected when journalists refuse to disclose their sources in the face of contempt of court. But how is this relevant in the context of o­nline journalism of the nature that you carry out?

My specific question is how, in spite of the best of intentions and journalistic ethics, can confidentiality be protected if authorities could with impunity walk in and cart away 15 CPUs and four servers and do a profiling of the electronic trail from these to trace to Petrof's computer - unless you say it cannot be done?

But it has been done by the authorities - in cases of e-mails spreading false news o­n terrorist attacks and also in the last occasion when malaysiakini itself traced the person manipulating your poll!

I think I speak for many readers and letter writers to raise this concern. I know that it may not be delicate at all to raise this concern at this juncture of your problems but still the readers who contribute content free in your support are entitled to know the measure of their personal risks implicated in such contributions, pseudonyms notwithstanding.

What do you intend to do o­n this most important issue of journalistic confidentiality of sources in the context of Net transmission and o­nline publication?

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