I find Jaya Prakash's dismissal of Sim Kwang Yang's piece on malaysiakini as pessimistic to have come out of a shallow reading of it.

Yes, Sim touched on the feudalistic mentality of the Barisan Nasional government, on how fear works in Malaysia to stifle free speech and the growth of civil society, on how many young people do not care to read or subscribe to malaysiakini for financial or other reasons (like perhaps for not finding stuff on entertainment and sports), and on how malaysiakini is still in the red financially.

And, yes, he also wondered whether malaysiakini would be able to survive in the next five years.

But did Sim not also say that malaysiakini could very well '... blaze a blinding trail in this savage darkened jungle that is Malaysian politics'? And what about this sentence towards the end:

'Given the cold harsh reality of our political wasteland, that malaysiakini has survived for five years is itself a great achievement ... All I know is that malaysiakini is a medium of communication like none other in Malaysia.

'Here, I can see not just two sides of any coin, but all the many sides of it. Here, despite the racial divide that has been institutionalised into the soul of our citizens, I get to see very reasonable discussions of sensitive issues like race and religion in a very sensitive, informed and enlightened manner. My acquaintance with malaysiakini has been a hugely educational experience.

'Long may you live indeed, malaysiakini !'

Is Sim not happy, grateful, and hopeful for malaysiakini ? What higher praise than for him (or anyone for that matter) to say that he has found it a 'highly educational experience'.

If Prakash were to take Sim's piece in its entirety, he would see how Sim was offering a sobering yet inspiring piece. He was being realistic about the political, economic, cultural, and social milieu that malaysiakini has to operate in and still comes away saying that he finds malaysiakini to be a 'great achievement' so far and wishes it a long life.

Prakash seemed to be euphoric over the 1,000 strong showing of well-wishers and friends at the dinner celebrating the 5th year anniversary of malaysiakini . Nothing wrong with that. Indeed, I was thrilled to read about that too, and would like to offer my belated congratulations to all at malaysiakini for their hugely successful anniversary dinner.

Problem is, Prakash appeared to have let his euphoria colour his reading of Sim's article. An article that succeeds in offering a balanced, realistic view of what malaysiakini has been about and how it has succeeded thus far against all odds.

For sure, Sim was not writing a sales pitch for malaysiakini . And thank goodness for that. Malaysiakini should be especially thankful. It can do without shallow praise.

Sim actually captures Gramsci's famous dictum that befits malaysiakini : pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.

And so, malaysiakini , despite future uncertainties and the fact that you appear to be still in the red, my best wishes to you as you continue to blaze the trail in this savage darkened jungle that is Malaysian politics.

Remove the fear that some Malaysians might still have in speaking out, and cultivate a stronger, more vibrant civil society for a freer, more equal, and more democratic Malaysia for all.

Onwards with the struggle!