A virtual protest is mushrooming in the Malaysian blogopshere after it was revealed that New Straits Times Press (NSTP) had filed a civil suit against two bloggers.

Calling themselves 'Bloggers United, No Fear', the movement is the brainchild of blogger Syed Azidi Al-Bukhary, who is better known as Sheih.

Sheih, 36 said he created the 'Bloggers United' badge as a symbol of solidarity amongst bloggers after learning of the suits filed against Jeff Ooi and Ahirudin Attan.

The badge depicts a finger on a computer key with the words 'Bloggers United, No Fear' on the side and a Malaysian flag on the surface.

Ooi and Ahirudin revealed in their respective blogs yesterday that they were served with papers by lawyers representing NSTP over postings in their blogs that were deemed defamatory.

Ex-parte injunction

Ahirudin who runs Rocky's Bru is being sued by NSTP, its deputy chairperson Kalimullah Hassan, chief executive officer Syed Faisal Albar, group editor-in-chief Hishamudin Aun and former group editor Brendan Pereira.

Meanwhile, Ooi who operates Screenshots is being sued by NSTP, Kalimullah, Hishamuddin and Pereira.

The applicants are also seeking for an injunction and removal of various blog posts. The hearing is set for Jan 25 and Jan 30 respectively.

According to the Star , NSTP obtained an exparte injunction ordering Ooi to remove the alleged defamatory postings on his blog.

The injunction, granted by High Court Justice Abdul Malik Ishak on Jan 11, states that the said 13 postings from Feb 16 to Dec 4, 2006, have to be removed from his blog by Jan 17.

The injunction also restrains Ooi, whether by himself, or through his employees and agents from republishing the said postings in his blogs or web, until the disposal of the company's defamation suit against him.

NSTP, however, failed to get a similar exparte injunction against Ahirudin.

Overwhelming response

Meanwhile, Sheih - who is famous for his political posters parodying politicians on his site Kickdefella - said the movement is not aimed at regulating bloggers.

"The badge is meant to tell the bloggers to stick together and act as a silent protest. We will continue to fight for our freedom of expression," he said.

The trained film-maker and teacher explained that 'Bloggers United' is a virtual organisation and aims to educate bloggers about their rights and blogging ethics.

"A lot of bloggers don't have journalism background. We want to hold conferences, teach them to be responsible and want them to use their real names to add to their credibility," he said.

Launched on Jan 13, the movement has received overwhelming response with the badge being displayed in more than 60 known blogs.

Also involved in the movement, blogger Susan Loone, 44, speculated that the mainstream press may come together and assert their powers over bloggers.

"The mainstream (media) are protecting themselves from their falling ratings and more people are turning to blogs for information.

"They can't beat the online media so now they take on the bloggers," added Loone, who is based in Bangkok.

She said the badge is getting international recognition after appearing on a Norwegian site.

In their first statement released today, 'Bloggers United' demanded for a level playing field in all action meted out to bloggers in defamation proceedings particularly in terms of financial resources and capabilities.

They are also asking for legal rights for bloggers to be properly protected.

In other developments, comments left in various blogs including Ooi's and Ahirudin's are calling for a boycott of NSTP papers and its blog, Monsterblog .