'It's nice to see there are a few people with guts in the mainstream media. To have a responsible journalist speaking up from within Utusan - wow!'

NUJ president flexes muscles over Utusan criticism

Ferdtan: Well done, NUJ president Hata Wahari - you have our respect. Speak and fight for the truth - a hallmark of a professional journalist. I hope more journalists will join him to give him support; for I see trouble water coming ahead of him.

Gen2 Indian: Well done, Mr Hata. It's gratifying to know there are still people in positions of power who have not sold their soul to the devil. The pen is mightier than the sword and you as leader of the NUJ have a heavy responsibility to see that wrongdoing, whether from BN or Pakatan Pakatan, does not go unreported.

JBGUY: Saudara Hata, ignore your detractors, they are self-serving people with vested interests. Do your job with integrity and you are only answerable to your conscience, the rakyat and the people who elected you. Kudos to your stand and willingness to stick to your principles.

Tristan: Once again, a glimmer of hope, this time from the new NUJ president. Let's hope the spark lights up an undying flame so that many others trapped in the dark confines of the licensed and regulated MSM (mainstream media) get to see the light to restore their personal and professional integrity.

Mohd Hazwan: Very few Malaysian journalists dare to say this anymore. I envy your guts and professionalism, En Hata. We need more Malaysians like you. Wasalam.

AkuMelayu: Ya betul. Semua orang suka tengok Melayu hantam Melayu. Semua orang tepuk tangan bila Melayu hantam Melayu. Cina tepuk tangan, India tepuk tangan dan sekarang ada Melayu pun sorak dan tepuk tangan. Ini Melayu semua tak sedar diri. Ini semua Melayu yang mengaku mereka ‘Malaysian First', bersenkongkol with the ‘other Malaysian First'. Sudah puas hati kamu semua Melayu?

Yusoff Ramli: Melayu perlu bangkit dan perjuangkan hak mereka dari kongkongan Umnoputra elit yang menganggap Melayu itu mudah lupa. Kenapakah bumiputera di Kelantan diketepikan sedangkan kita juga rakyat Malaysia? Kenapakah bumiputera di Sabah dan Sarawak terus hidup dalam keadaan miskin, sedangkan Umnoputra memiliki mahligai RM23 juta?

Hwa Shi-Hsia: It's nice to see there are a few people with guts in the mainstream media. To have a responsible journalist speaking up from within Utusan Malaysia - wow! This is unlike some journalists who worked and kept quiet for years and then only after they retire or resign they dare to buka mulut (open their mouth) and complain about the MSM as if they were never a part of it.

By Election Fan: Encik Hata, please continue to speak as professional journalist that reports nothing but the truth and not behave like a prostitute, just like the editor who is willing to do anything just to please his/her master without any moral consideration.

However, due to your braveness, I can predict your days in Utusan are numbered. Be a man and die as a man. Stand to your values as a true journalist. God bless you.

Rocky: It is sad that people who are neutral and want to report the truth are targeted and asked to quit, but those who writes lies are encouraged and may even be promoted.

Zaid won't be left out, promises Azmin

Urban Sarawakian: My first reaction to this article was this - Azmin Ali is only going for deputy presidency yet he is speaking like he is going to win the post of president. His action justifies allegations that party president Wan Azizah is just a puppet head.

Could it be that Anwar Ibrahim has already promised Azmin the deputy's post thereby allowing him to be the de facto president should he, Anwar, be jailed for sodomy again? This sounds exactly like Umno! Look here, Anwar and Azmin, if this is what you intend, then forget about trying to work with Sarawak and Sabah.

Lim Lye Seng: In democratic elections, candidates are allowed to speak their mind without fear or favour. Look at the examples of the US - the Democrat's and Republican's presidential nominees' contests. After the contest, they close ranks for the US presidential elections.

Azmin has the right to stake his claim based on his earlier struggles and sacrifices (he was Anwar closest aide); in fact, he is the natural successor to Anwar Ibrahim.

Let's face it and without disrespect to Wan Azizah, she became the beacon of the fight for justice when Anwar was jailed for many years. The real leader of the opposition is Anwar. The best combination would be Wan Azizah becoming the permanent chairperson of the party and Anwar the president.

Should he go to jail again, which is likely, Azmin and Wan Azizah will continue with the struggle until we have a free Malaysia.

ETP consultations: Pakatan states get little respect

BTN: This revengeful behaviour of BN and its minister does not bode well for a healthy democracy. Why practice democracy if you are unable to respect another person's choice of representative? This uncouth and arrogant act is unprofessional and runs contrary to democracy.

Lau Eng Shinn: Well, it is very clear to everyone now that the BN government wants only absolute power and will not respect or accept any other outcome. This the true colour of BN. They practice their own version of democracy. So childish. ‘I-won't-friend-you-now-'cos-you-don't-support-me' mentality. Shame on you, BN.

Swipenter: BN believes in vindictive politics. In fact, it has been their speciality for more than four decades. Opposition-held constituencies/states are inevitably left out of any development projects and not given any funds if they can help it. They are more interested in ‘punishing' everyone residing outside BN-controlled areas than developing the country in a holistic manner.

Nagenthram: Why is Kuala Langat always left out of development? Klang and Sepang are linked by the MRT but not Kuala Langat, which is in the middle.

Anon: It's clearly a case of ‘you are not my party, so we do not include you'. They are not interested in the welfare of the people (which they claim to be) or for the benefit of the country.

Imran: A good leader is one who is able to work together with everyone for the good of the nation. In Malaysia, the BN government treats the opposition like enemies. Mind you, we the rakyat elected the opposition so the government views us as enemies too.

The more the BN government tries to cripple the Pakatan-run states, the more resolved we the rakyat become to return them to power. And despite the zero cooperation from BN, most of the Pakatan states are doing fine.

Karpal to Bar: Lawyers' private lives not off-limits

Jazz Singer: I had had a lawyer 'friend' who was constantly drunk. Waited for two years for him to get my Letter of Attorney but it did not materialise. I got it done myself at the majlis perbandaran on my own within six months. This is how the private lives of lawyers affect us.

Making a complaint will not do anything as the above is not considered as tantamount to misconduct or evidence enough. To date, I do not trust any lawyers except my honest uncle, but he passed away, a relatively poor man, about 10 years ago..

Imraz Muhammed Ikhbal: If those in the legal fraternity seek to be identified only as professional men of the law disregarding completely personal integrity, then there is nothing wrong with that. One can be an adulterer but still be the best lawyer in town and he would certainly be marketable notwithstanding his moral values.

But if lawyers and solicitors wish themselves to be identified as men of noble standing and exemplariness then they deserve the kind of reverence they will yield from the public should they decide to embrace Karpal Singh's call to sieve out bad hats. Neither the Bar Council nor Karpal is wrong on this matter.

It is all about how those in the legal fraternity desire to be perceived by the public and how high the plane of dignity and level of esteem they wish to be at in the eyes of the society. Albeit, Karpal's call on the matter warrants serious consideration as it would certainly be a much-needed enhancement to the current value system of our nation.

The above are a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only Malaysiakini subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .