HARAKAH : 'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,'

I don't care much for HARAKAH. Never ever bought that paper. But I know of it. Zul Sulong, one of its ex-editors, ex ISA detainee, was, and still is, a dear friend of mine. We used to meet at his then office near Tawakal Hospital in Jalan Pahang for lunch and cakap cakap about the things that mattered to us then. And I met Zul again when I was in KL a few months back.

Now back to Harakah.

Who revoked HARAKAH media pass? This Madani government? Why? Is HARAKAH a threat to our national security? These days there seem to be so many threats to our national security. Hence the need for SOSMA. The need for the authorities to be ever so vigilant against these threats. Really?

Have these ex-REFORMASI now MADANI guys forgotten what they were, not too long ago? Have they forgotten the street battles in those REFORMASI days when their supporters fought battles on KL streets against the Riot Squad? How many of these supporters were beaten senseless and into a pulp? So many of them were ready to risk life and limbs for REFORMASI.

Now there is no more REFORMASI! How soon before REFORMASI becomes a 'dirty' word to PKR? How soon will anyone uttering REFORMASI be arrested and incarcerated?

Let me remind these now-Madani guys that those REFORMASI guys are still around. And do not forget that the ex-PKR stalwarts and the ex-REFORMASI guys are not only around, but they have not forgotten that it was their struggles then, that had contributed towards putting you Madani guys into Putrajaya.

Think carefully before you decide to ban, gag or block any of us from having our say in the manner you do government. The costs to you, not us, will not be good. Enough said.