I am shocked to learn that New York Times correspondent, Judith Miller has been jailed after she said she would not reveal her confidential source to a grand jury investigating the leak of a covert CIA operative's name to the media.

I believe that this is a most dark spot on the history of press freedom in a land which claims to practice free and liberal journalism. I strongly oppose and condemn the judgment delivered by Chief US District Judge Thomas Hogan who said '... confinement at a jail in the Washington, DC, area might convince her to change her mind and testify'.

The grand jury investigation by special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, a Justice Department prosecutor, seeks to determine who in the Bush administration leaked the name of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame in 2003 to the media and whether any laws were violated.

Plame's name was leaked, her diplomat husband said, because of his criticism of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war.

Miller - during the hearing - was firm that she would not testify. "I do not make confidential pledges lightly, but when I do I must honour them. If I do not, how can I expect people to accept my assurances," she said.

I commend the highly professional and ethical journalism that Judith Miller practices and I urge fellow journalists in Malaysia to join ranks to show support, solidarity and sympathy with her.

The writer is the DAP member of parliament for Seputeh.