An independent online news magazine which advocates press freedom, saksi.com, will make a comeback tomorrow after being dormant for more than a year.

The website, which is a project of the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), will be relaunched at the Bar Council Auditorium in Kuala Lumpur.

Editor Eddin Khoo told malaysiakini today that the website will feature independent commentaries by contributors from around the region.

"We want to be divorced from politics if possible," he said adding that the services of a few contributors from Indonesia and the Philippines have been secured.

Among them are Indonesian writer Goenawan Mohamad who will have his own column entitled 'Catatan Pinggir'.

Khoo, a former journalist with The Star, added that saksi.com will be updated on the first day of each month. However, the September issue will be online by tomorrow.

Saksi.com made its debut in October 1998. It has not been updated since June 2000.

Interactive forum

Meanwhile, in conjunction with the relaunch, CIJ will organise a forum entitled 'What is meant by independence in the media' at 10.30am at the same venue.

Among the speakers listed on the panel are malaysiakini editor Steven Gan, Berita Keadilan editor Khalid Jaafar and Sisters in Islam (SIS) representative Noraini Othman.

"We hope to look into the very basic issues of independence in the media which most of us take for granted.

"The forum will also be a very interactive event as we hope to get as much feedback as possible from the audience," said Khoo.

The event is co-organised by the Bar Council Human Rights Committee.