The defamation suits filed against two bloggers by the New Straits Times Press (NSTP) will have a 'chilling effect' on bloggers, said Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang today.

In a statement, he said this will result in expensive litigation that can cripple the ordinary blogger and fail to contribute in defining the legal rights of bloggers and citizen journalists.

Two days ago, bloggers Jeff Ooi and Ahirudin Attan were served with papers by lawyers representing NSTP over postings in their blogs that were deemed defamatory.

The duo revealed this in their blogs today.

Ahirudin who runs Rocky's Bru is being sued by NSTP, its deputy chairperson Kalimullah Hassan, chief executive officer Syed Faisal, group editor-in-chief Hishamudin Aun and former group editor Brendan Pereira.

Meanwhile, Ooi who operates Screenshots is being sued by NSTP, Kalimullah, Hishamuddin and Pereira.

The applicants are also seeking for an injunction. The hearing is set for Jan 25 and Jan 30 respectively.

Grave development

Meanwhile Lim, a blogger himself, described this as a 'grave development' in the defence of the legal rights of bloggers and citizen journalists in Malaysia to break the 'stifling monopoly' of the mainstream media.

He pointed out that Ooi's blog displays a prominent warning that reads: 'Internet does not operate in a vacuum'. The comments posted are also moderated.

"No responsible blogger will claim absolute freedom of speech and expression in the blogosphere, including the liberty to defame with impunity the character of others," Lim said.

He also referred to Ooi's caveat that reads: 'Any comments posted on this blog that are obscene, blasphemous, racial or overtly threatening, including the use of partial words or phrases where the intent is clearly offensive, will be removed immediately by the host. Such comment could also render the person posting them liable to legal action or prosecution'.

"There must be space in the blogosphere for free and fair comment, which is anathema in the mainstream media where important national issues and prominent personalities are concerned," the veteran politician added.

In November 2006, Ahirudin and Jeff were embroiled in a controversy with NSTP when they revealed that a column in the New Straits Times on Oct 30 written by Pereira bore a strong resemblance in style and structure to a column by Mitch Albom in the Detroit Free Press of Sept 10, 2006.

The NSTP later announced that Pereira will end his term of service as group editor of NST on Dec 31 and rejected the allegations of plagiarism.

The bloggers have also alleged that Kallimullah and NST are Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's spin doctors.