Accountability and Transparency

Yes, you can.

Yes you may. This subscription allows you access to both.

Malaysiakini English and Chinese sections have created a common platform to adopt subscriptions as a business model. This is to ensure we are able to sustain and continue promoting independent news reporting.

Ideally, advertising would pay for good-quality journalism. However, for online advertising, a large percentage gets invested in large non-Malaysian-owned sites such as Facebook and Google. Also, some advertisers prefer to advertise on entertainment sites.

Online advertising is also much cheaper than print advertising. For example, if a print newspaper can earn US$100 per reader, a website may earn US$ 1 per reader.

Hence, Malaysiakini believes to create a sustainable journalistic site, we believe that users should contribute a small subscription fee.

While Malaysiakini has always endeavoured to protect our subscribers from bona fide attempts to invade their privacy, we regret that we are unable to extend this privilege if they are in clear breach of the law and for which the authorities are pursuing action.

We, therefore, very strongly advise all our subscribers to strictly abide by our guidelines when commenting to avoid prosecution.

All comments are linked to your Malaysiakini subscription profile which we reserve the right to disclose to law enforcement agencies should they require it for valid purposes.

In the past, Malaysiakini had refused to divulge the identity of our contributors, resulting in police raids and computers seized. We will continue this policy. However, there may be exceptions to this.

Read our full commenting terms and conditions.

We are accountable to our readers and will deal fairly and openly with them. Private behaviour, information, correspondence and conversation will not be brought into the public domain unless there is a public interest that outweighs the expectation of privacy. We will be rigorous in establishing the truth of the story and well-informed when explaining it.

Malaysiakini believes that the media should play a role in reporting on current affairs in such a way that it both informs the public of key political debates as well as holds those in power accountable. We believe that this is needed so that those who hold public office, always respond to public concerns and do not use their positions for personal benefit.

Hence Malaysiakini is often the first media to expose wrongdoings, corruption and abuses of human rights. Malaysiakini will do so, regardless of political party or personality involved.

Malaysiakini is not owned by any political party or political figure. Malaysiakini is owned by the co-founders Premesh Chandran and Steven Gan, our principal investors the Media Development Loan Fund and shareholders that include ex-Staff and supporters.

The co-founders do NOT represent any political interest and are dedicated to ensuring Malaysiakini remains independent from political control.

There are various individuals and organisations that have accused us of being backed by the international financier George Soros. The allegations stem from Malaysiakini’s investor – the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) and one of Malaysiakini’s donor the Open Society Foundation have links with George Soros.

Malaysiakini believes in working with local and international organisations that support press freedom. Press freedom projects tend to be short-term, with goals that are for social good, and are unlikely to be commercially viable. Donor support does not contribute significantly to financing Malaysiakini.

At all times, Malaysiakini retains its independence, with Malaysiakini’s editorial team given full freedom to report on local and international matters, in line with professional journalistic ethics. Malaysiakini is transparent with our investment and donor linkages. Read more

When Malaysiakini was launched in 1999, there was not a single site in Malaysia that was providing independent political news written by professional journalists, and scrutinised by an editorial team.

Today there are quite a few sites which aim to provide independent political news, and they are strong competitors to Malaysiakini.

There are differences.

First, we believe we are the best among news sites. We try to be the most balanced and accurate, in the context of “news and views that matter”, and in line with our mission statement of promoting social justice, freedom of expression and democracy.

Second, Malaysiakini’s ownership is known. We have consistently put the mission of independent journalism, ahead of corporate or ownership agendas.

Third, we are funded by our readers via subscriptions. We do not self-censor to appease our advertisers.

Fourth, as Malaysiakini’s editorial team is composed of Malaysians from all walks of life, a healthy debate happens internally, and we look at a story from all angles.

Fifth, Malaysiakini is adamant about speaking truth to power. If a story needs to be told, Malaysiakini will do it, even if it means taking on the powers that be.

When Malaysiakini was launched, we believed that independent political reporting was the most important area not being addressed by the mainstream media. In line with our slogan “news and views that matter” and with our limited resources, we believed that Malaysiakini could make the most impact in this area.

Yes, Malaysiakini has contributors to write about developments in Sabah and Sarawak.

You may email us at [email protected] if you have a story that you believe Malaysiakini should report on.

Malaysiakini receives heavy correspondence from our readers submitting their thoughts on various issues. All submissions are screened but due to sheer volume, only a selected few are published. To increase the chances of getting your views selected, below are our guidelines when submitting such pieces to us.

All articles should be a maximum of 1,500 words. While it is not a language competition, we would be grateful if grammar, punctuation and sentence construction are observed. Malaysiakini allows pseudonyms only for certain ‘Letters to the Editor’.

Kindly also provide your real name and contact details. When deciding to allow pseudonyms, the editors consider the risk to your occupation and self and family and also that not divulging your true identity will not compromise the integrity of the letter/article.

The editors reserve the right to edit for content, clarity and suitability. Do ensure your article or letter is not defamatory or libellous.

We are unable to publish all views received and receipt is not a guarantee of publication. No correspondence or conversations will be entered into for requests to publish. If your article or letter does not appear within a week, you may assume it was not selected for publication. Common reasons for non-publication include lack of audience appeal, murky content and non-relevancy.

Based on your piece, the editors will decide whether it will appear as a ‘COMMENT’ or as a ‘Letter to the Editor’. Again, please refrain from contacting us with a request for one or the other.

If selected as a ‘COMMENT’ piece, we will require a short blurb on your background and qualifications.

Malaysiakini does not pay for unsolicited material.

Please send your contributions to [email protected].

We welcome new columnists to Malaysiakini, in English, Malay or Chinese.

We do pay our columnists depending on their quality but some of our columnists are working on a pro-bono basis.

Do a little research on what makes a good column. Then send us a sample at [email protected]

You can email us at [email protected] with the details of your event.

Bear in mind that Malaysiakini focuses on political news but we will try to cover other news that we feel is relevant to our readers.

It’s quite affordable to reach out to Malaysiakini’s 4.5 million users. Check out FG Media.

Get in touch. Tell us your advertising need and we’ll work out a customised solution for you or your client.