Three major non-governmental organisations (NGO) have appealed to all concerned Malaysians to rally behind the independent o­nline media, malaysiakini , in order to uphold the right of freedom of expression and a free press in the country.

"We have a duty to ourselves and our nation to stand by the courageous and honest journalists and personnel of malaysiakini who strive so hard for so little to give us so much 'news that matters'," Aliran, Hakam and Suaram said in a joint statement yesterday.

In the statement which was also endorsed by 48 other local NGOs, they said the police raid o­n malaysiakini on Jan 20, for allegedly publishing a seditious letter, cannot be taken as an isolated attack on a "small and financially strapped company running a news service".

"The raid was a deliberated assault o­n all Malaysians' fundamental right to know 'the news that matters' to be honestly and properly informed, and to have uncontrolled channel to contribute to public discussion and debate," the statement said.