I note with interest and admiration that Malaysiakini has recently marked its 10th anniversary , and would like to sincerely congratulate you on the milestone.

For the past 10 years, Malaysiakini has managed to amass a readership base that far exceeded most expectations despite adopting a subscription-based approach.

This is testament to the success of both your commercial model and your news reporting - to maintain a high readership figures even as other online news portals have mushroomed into existence in recent years is indeed remarkable.

The need for a free and independent press is requisite in any democratic society, and as such, although we may sometimes hold dissimilar perspectives, rest assured that I will continue to support your right to report news fairly and factually.

In fact, Malaysiakini’s fierce journalistic independence, coupled with its independent financing, has contributed towards fulfilling the media’s role as the fourth estate.

I wish you all the best for the future and may you have many more years of success.

The writer is Umno Youth chief.