COMMENT | It was ironic that some among the protesters, who descended on the Malaysiakini office with a vendetta over the weekend, donned Guy Fawkes masks.

The red-shirts were, or at least according to their leader, protesting to safeguard democracy.

But Fawkes, on the other hand, was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot, and had attempted to blow up the House of Lords during the state opening of Parliament half a millennium ago.

Certain individuals operate on the belief that democracy means holding an election once every few years to allow citizens to exercise their right to vote and elect candidates of their choice.

To them, all other activities, though part and parcel of a democratic system, are threats to democracy, and must be countered, with martial arts if need be.

Now, journalism has been added to the growing list of threats, with the police investigating Malaysiakini for funds it received from an organisation linked to American billionaire George Soros.

Detractors claim that Soros is dictating the editorial direction of the news portal with a certain political agenda - to institute regime change.

Here is a brief recap of some of the news published by Malaysiakini over the last 11 months.

In January, the portal exposed a series of videos featuring Sirul Azhar Umar, a former police special force personnel convicted of murdering Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

In these recordings, Sirul had said, among others, that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was not connected to the case.

So a news portal which ostensibly seeks to topple the current prime minister chooses to highlight videos which exonerate him. Is this not a case of perverted logic?

In May, Malaysiakini broke the news on a letter penned by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim from prison, which denounced the Citizens’ Declaration to remove Najib as a flawed document by his ex-mentor, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Once again, this article, should there be a diabolical agenda lurking in the background, would have been, in news jargon, ‘spiked’, for it frustrates the attempt to unseat the prime minister.

In the wake of the Citizens’ Declaration and the formation of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Malaysiakini published a slew of articles critical of the collaboration between former prime minister Mahathir and the opposition.

Unless the editors were orchestrating a mutiny, it is bizarre to imagine that a news portal accused of aiding the opposition to seize federal power would publish articles which produce results to the contrary.

The news portal, which its detractors often say is associated with DAP, had also published extensive reports on the corruption allegations against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, instead of censoring such news for the purpose of furthering its so-called agenda.

Malaysiakini also presented a detailed explanation on the corruption charges in the form of a Kiniguide as opposed to putting its resources on defending the DAP leader, since the Kiniguide sifted through the rhetoric to provide facts, which could alter public perception and weaken the opposition.

In late September, Malaysiakini was provided with copies of emails by a source purportedly detailing how Sarawak Report was funded by certain individuals to launch a smear campaign against Najib.

Common sense would dictate that a news portal with an ulterior motive to bring down the prime minister would have dumped this revelation in the trash bin and not lend credence to the claim of a conspiracy against the current administration.

However, the emails were published with the denial of Sarawak Report editor Claire-Rewcastle Brown. This is in line with the practice of journalism to show both sides of the coin and allow readers to make their own judgment.

The Soros leak

Last month, Malaysiakini was the first to highlight a Wikileaks expose on an anti-Najib lobby in Washington linked to Soros.

How is it even logical that Malaysiakini would implicate its own so-called paymaster?

And last week, when the prime minister was criticised for bringing his family members on an official trip to China, Malaysiakini produced an article quoting experts on diplomacy defending his action.

A simple online search would reveal that Malaysiakini has published hundreds, if not thousands, of news items, commentaries and letters critical of the opposition and its leaders as well.

Not to forget, Malaysiakini has provided wide coverage to the red-shirts led by Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos, just as we have reported news on its nemesis, the electoral reform movement Bersih.

A simple online search would reveal that Malaysiakini has published an abundance of news items, commentaries and letters critical of the opposition and its leaders as well.

Its detractors should run a similar check with the mainstream media to determine if these organisations have done the same with articles critical of ruling politicians before lecturing Malaysiakini on what constitutes good journalism.

Yes. Malaysiakini has an agenda.

An agenda to ensure that alternative views are given space, to encourage contestation of ideas, to hold those elected or appointed to public office accountable to the people, to ensure good governance as well as respect for human rights and fundamental liberties.

In other words, Malaysiakini endeavours to enhance parliamentary democracy, not to undermine it.

A wise person once remarked, “News is what someone wants suppressed. Everything else is advertising...”

RK ANAND is a member of the Malaysiakini team.