WHAT'S MORE POWERFUL THAN THE PEN?

There are very few good reporter/critics/writers who really believe in what they are doing. Many are just doing their job i.e. makan gaji. Meet the dateline and please the bosses, is their motto. Don't bite the hand that feed you. Only the brave ones dare to stand firm for what they believe in and convince the bosses that these are in the best interest of the company and the people (readers). After all the papers are just like any other companies that must make profit for their shareholders.

We come to admire their courage in pursuing any issue that is of interest to the people and the tenacy and agressiveness of a pitbull (no offence meant) in going for the bone. Many other writers would just "Bark! Bark!" and retreat to the corner when their bosses/shareholders bring out the stick. Writers/reporters like R. Nadeswaran (The Sun's Deputy editor), Terrence Fernandez (The Sun), Dr. Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas (IKIM) and Shah Saleen Faruqi (UiTM Law Faculty) , to name a few, are the epitome of excellence in journalism. i am sure they are subjected to tremendous pressure by the powerful in office as well as having to face the many threats not only to themselves but also to their families. Hope there are enough of the up and coming reporters/writers who are brave enough and having the right character to follow in their footsteps.

So what is more powerful than the pen? It is the power of the SOUL.