Hiding Behind The PM

Pak Lah attacks bloggers in NSTP papers
It pains me to see my Prime Minister being dragged, wittingly or unwittingly, into the war being waged by the NSTP and its 4 operatives with Ahirudin Attan and Jeff Ooi.
As I've said before, the 4 (one is a former operative, actually) have the right to sue the Rocky's Bru and the Screenshots bloggers. I do not agree that they should drag the NSTP to fight their battle.
I certainly don't like them using Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as a shield, a cover.
I have the highest regard for the office of the Prime Minister of my country.
It pains me more because I have known Pak Lah for a very long time. Certainly longer than any of his (present) close advisers. And yes, longer than any of the plaintiffs, one of whom has written in the NSTP to brag that he is a close friend of the PM.
I, however, cannot say that I am his close friend. Let's just say he knows me well enough as a journalist of some experience.
So did Kak Endon, his late wife. But not just as a journalist. We also happened to have grown up in the same Petaling Jaya neighbourhood and whose sisters are friends of mine as we used to study in the same school.
That's not bragging, That's a fact.
I have always had a fondness for Pak Lah because the man I have known through the years, is a nice guy.
The last I met him was at the Umno general assembly in 2005 when he visited the media centre.
As usual, he would stop for a chat with journalists at work there.
He never failed to ask me about me, my father and my family.
He calls me "No'Aina", for which most northerners (orang utara) seem to have a fondness.
As a young reporter in the early 80s, he was one of my favourite subjects who had given me many scoops in the education beat.
I would wait for him outside his office until his last guest/visitor left. Rosni (his Press officer then), would let me in and Pak Lah would indulge me -- answering my questions about current issues pertaining to his ministry. He was really cool.
I remember, years ago during the Umno (team A/team B) debacle in the mid 80s, he got pretty upset over an article I did.
He met me in Parliament and asked me ever so sweetly : "No'Aina, No'Aina, who are your sources? " I felt so bad I almost wanted to make a grovelling apology. How could I have upset this nice man?
Now this nice man is a subject of ridicule.
Yes, as he said in the New Sunday Times interview -- r i d i c u l e.
The case between the NSTP/4 operatives and Rocky has already been brought to the High Court. Why would the editors of the NST and the Berita Harian want to publish the PM's quotes about "lies after lies" of the bloggers, which may be seen as prejudicing the case?
They have ridiculed him further.
Soon, if his coterie of not-so-wise advisers go about their merry unthinking way, they would have him be cited for contempt of court.
No. Mr Prime Minister Sir. I am most disagreeable with what they have been making you do.
They should start fighting their own battles.

Note: Rocky goes back to the High Court tomorrow (Monday, Jan 29) at 9 am to inform the learned Judge about his position with regards to comments left on his postings after he had been served the writ by the Plaintiffs. The lawyers for the Plaintiffs said last Thursday those comments could be seen as prejudicing the case.