I REFER to your report “Raja Petra ordered to pay RM4m in damages” (NST, March 27).

I agree with the judgment of the Alor Star High Court which ordered Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin to pay RM2 million in general damages to Universiti Utara Malaysia vice-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Nordin Kardi and RM2 million to the university over an article which he posted on his Malaysia Today website two years ago.

This should be a lesson to all bloggers that they cannot write or post articles on their website without considering the implications of their act.

I think other people affected by unfair blogging should consider taking similar action against bloggers.

Spreading rumours

MALAYSIANS must be more responsible in their use of alternative media like the Internet and blogs, which can be turned into gossip machines to spread unsavoury stories about everything and everybody.

This is becoming an unhealthy practice among the younger generation.

They give vent to their frustrations by posting rude and vulgar comments on blogs.

Some of the things being discussed have no factual basis and are spread as though they are the truth.

The danger is that people believe them and form judgments based on untruths and half-truths.

If this practice persists, it threatens to turn Malaysians into a nation of rumour-mongers.

By BULBIR SINGH, Seremban

AHMAD ZAZLI HAMID, Ampang, Selangor

Source: NST – March 31, 2008