I refer to the report M'kini barred from GLC opening ceremony .

To a certain extent Malaysiakini publishes negative aspects of current issues. However, this is important to us as readers and the general public as taxpayers and citizens living in this country.

Malaysiakini is one of the few sources brave enough to expose the government's unfairness in policy and implementation, corruption, cover-ups and ugly missions.

You may find these reports in the print media such as The Star , Utusan Malaysia , Berita Harian , Sin Chew Jit Pao , Nanyang Siang Pao , New Straits Times , but the report is not as comprehensive as that published in Malaysiakini .

The same goes for government-run TV channels RTM1, RTM2 and Bernama TV.

Negative news about ruling government have the shortest time while these channels would elaborate in length negative news about the opposition.

So Malaysiakini is actually fulfilling the needs of the general public in this area.

I need to emphasise the phrase I used earlier "the general public as taxpayers and citizens living in this country" because:

  •  As taxpayers, we do not want our hard-earned money siphoned off by corrupt politicians, officials and businessmen leaving us dry with no money for development and,
  • 2 As citizens living in this country, we want fairness, equal opportunities for our children and grandchildren in various sectors, as we would like to live here for generations. Migration to other countries may be an option but it is confined to the elite few.

Therefore, Malaysiakini is playing the role of check and balance as well as a reminder to the ruling government, be it BN or Pakatan, to abide by the constitution and listen to the people.

Moreover, Malaysiakini interviews, readers' letters and views are very diverse and provide an excellent source of knowledge and learning but you need to think, analyse, finally filter them and come to your own conclusions.

International news networks I always watch such as CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera have been reporting negative aspects of government, economy, politics, conflicts etc for decades. These networks hardly report positive news. Don't just take my word for it; watch these channels yourself.

In real life, no government and no business establishment would voluntarily publish, let alone admit negative things about themselves in the course of pursuing their goals unless exposed by someone.

Last night I watched an Al Jazeera report on a German doctor, Dr Wolfgang, investigating allegations that some greedy international pharmaceutical companies are influencing scientists to use two-dose H1N1 vaccinations for all cases when one dose is actually sufficient for most cases.

Do you think the international pharmaceutical companies concerned would voluntarily tell the world about this?