The recent events involving our current and ex-PM is public knowledge. This may signal a new dawn in press freedom where events and opinions are not suppressed. Our current PM should be commended for allowing the press to air views from both sides of the debate. Our ex-PM should also be given full coverage to express his thoughts and concerns.

This is the beauty of democracy, where we can thrive in a environment that allows healthy debate, discourse, discussion and dialogue. It is then for the people to discern, decipher and decide whose argument holds the most weight.

Mustapha Ong in his letter Malaysiakini writer must be deported shoots himself in the foot and contradicts himself with his shallow thoughts. He is not ready for press freedom and does not understand that one of the most basic tenets of democracy is the right to have one's opinion.

He does not realise that for the very fact he wishes his views to be heard, so too must he respect Dean Johns' right to have his opinion. If we use Ong's schoolboy-like bullying methods of invoking the ISA or using the Special Branch, we wouldn't have the privilege of knowing the events and facts behind the current debate between our current and ex-PM.

As long as a media blackout is not imposed, the people are able to hear various types of opinions. These include knee-jerk opinions from the likes of the de facto law minister and MP for Kinabatangan who both provide entertainment and a good laugh.

Others, like Mustapha Ong, wish to kill off all discussion. For me, I know who I would rather like to have a discussion over a cup of tea. Like the majority of Malaysians, I see the dawning of a new era in press freedom, an eventual treasure worth holding on dearly to.