I have always thought FEER was a reputable magazine with high journalistic standards. I am sad, however, to note its failure to redress the error in one of its reports that touched on the funding of Malaysiakini.com ([#1] FEER report untrue, M'siakini never got Soros funds [/#], Feb 2).

Readers of newspapers believe what they read. When I first read of malaysiakini 's supposed receipt of funds from George Soros, I was disappointed. I do not know who he is apart from his spat with Dr Mahathir Mohamad. To me, anyone who makes a living out of pure speculation and not from genuine economic productivity must be treated with suspicion. I was naturally happy to learn from my newsgroup that Malaysiakini.com does not receive funds directly or indirectly from Soros.

My gripe is that FEER now despite having all the facts has not done the decent thing by apologising and putting things right. No one who believes in the high moral ground that the media often takes will excuse FEER 's refusal to set the record straight.

Insofar as I am concerned, FEER has lost its credibility. Unlike the more sordid press that churn out written garbage, FEER shows it can tell lies under the guise of respectability, for indeed the refusal of a publication to admit its errors in its reporting is tantamount to a doctor refusing to admit he erred in writing a prescription. It could lead to a fatal outcome for someone else.

FEER can surely do better. We have enough propaganda publications that pretend to be newspapers; why does it need to join them?