Ahirudin Attan

Ahirudin bin Attan,cite web |url=http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/blog/lemaklemang/0,39056113,39368423,00.htm |title=In Dispatch from Malaysia: Journalists who blog |accessdate=2007-02-22 |author=Jeff Ooi |date=2006-06-17 |publisher=CNET Asia ] cite web |url=http://rockybru.blogspot.com/2007/09/excuse-me-wtf-registered-me-as-voter.html |title=Excuse me, WTF registered me as a voter? |accessdate=2007-09-20 |author=Attan, Ahirudin |date=2007-09-20 |publisher=Rocky's Bru ] (born December 20, 1961) also known as Rocky Bru, is a Malaysian blogger, journalist and former editor of several New Straits Times Press (NSTP) publications, including the "Business Times", "The Malay Mail" and "The Sunday Mail". He currently runs a blog, dubbed Rocky's Bru, and resides in Kuala Lumpur.

Journalism

Ahirudin's first foray into journalism was as a journalist for the "Business Times" in 1985, after graduating from "Institut Teknologi MARA" (now "Universiti Teknologi MARA"). In 1992, he served as the group's London correspondent and would later furthered his studies in Cardiff in 1993, taking up a course in Advance Journalism.cite web |url=http://www.jeffooi.com/2006/02/the_new_malay_male.php |title=The new Malay Male |accessdate=2007-02-22 |author=Jeff Ooi |date=2006-02-17 |publisher=Screenshots ] Ahirudin was appointed Editor of the "Business Times" in 1997 and remained so until he was appointed Acting Editor of "The Malay Mail" on 16 October, 2001. He was further reappointed as the Executive Editor of both the "Malay Mail" and "Sunday Mail" on 1 May, 2004, following a restructuring in the paper's news desk.cite web |url=http://www.nstp.com.my/Corporate/nstp/products/productMMHistory.htm |title="The Malay Mail" > History |accessdate=2007-02-22 |author= |date= |publisher=The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad website ]

On 13 February, 2006, Ahirudin resigned from his editorial position as the newspaper was revamped to cater to younger readerships. Ahirudin further departed from the New Straits Times Press on May 2006, amid speculation that included a "run-in with the present head honchos in the organization." Ahirudin has worked with the NSTP for 21 years.

Ahirudin was the President of the National Press Club from 2003 to March 31, 2007, succeeded by Mokhtar Hussain, his brother,cite web |url=http://rockybru.blogspot.com/2007/04/npc-president-and-i.html |title=The NPC President and I |accessdate=2007-04-05 |author=Ahirudin Attan |date=01/04/2007 |publisher=rocky's bru ] and remains as its adviser until March 2009. He is also an Editorial Consultant, and columnist.

Blogging

In May 2006, Ahirudin started Rocky's Bru,cite web |url=http://rockybru.blogspot.com/2006/05/time-flies.html |title= TIME FLIES |accessdate=2007-02-22 |author=Ahirudin Attan |date=2006-05-21 |publisher=rocky's bru ] a Blogger.com-based blog centered primarily on journalism, mass media and politics.

Ahirudin's blog has garnered sufficient attention by the NSTP that it was blocked from NSTP offices and branches nationwide within two weeks after the blog was formed,cite web |url=http://rockybru.blogspot.com/2006/06/for-adults-only.html |title= FOR ADULTS ONLY? |accessdate=2007-02-22 |author=Ahirudin Attan |date=05/06/2006 |publisher=rocky's bru ] and has prompted the group to launch a lawsuit against him, alongside blogger Jeff Ooi, on 11 January, 2007, for libel.cite web |url=http://rockybru.blogspot.com/2007/01/injunction.html |title= Bloggers sued in Malaysia (previously "Injunction") |accessdate=2007-02-22 |author=Ahirudin Attan |date=2007-01-18 |publisher=rocky's bru ] cite web |url=http://www.jeffooi.com/2007/01/bloggers_sued_in_malaysia.php |title=Bloggers sued in Malaysia |accessdate=2007-02-22 |author=Jeff Ooi |date=2007-01-18 |publisher=Screenshots ] cite web |url=http://www.jeffooi.com/2007/01/bloggers_sued_in_malaysia_2.php |title=Bloggers sued in Malaysia... ( 2 ) |accessdate=2007-02-22 |author=Jeff Ooi |date=2007-01-18 |publisher=Screenshots ] As of March 2008, the suit is in progress.

On April 6, 2007, Ahirudin was appointed the President of the National Bloggers Alliance, a newly formed group aimed at protecting the rights of Malaysian bloggers and promoting responsible blogging.cite web |url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/6/nation/17370655&sec=nation |title=Bloggers form grouping|accessdate=2007-04-09 |author= |date=06/04/2007 |publisher=The Star Online] cite web |url=http://www.mstar.com.my/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_c1f76a16-c0a85062-1d10ea20-b7a4f678 |title=Penulis blog tubuh 'pakatan nasional' ms icon|accessdate=2007-04-09 |author=Salhan K. Ahmad |date=05/04/2007 |publisher=mStar Online]

Jeff Ooi

Ahirudin has developed a relatively healthy friendship with Jeff Ooi. However, Ahirudin has stated in a press conference on 23 January, 2007 that he has previous engaged Ooi in a "healthy" exchange of words:

"There was name calling (by the blog readers), [Ooi] used his blog space to criticise and I used my column in the " [New Straits Times| [New] Sunday Times] " to respond. Had it gone on and on it would've been a healthy debate."cite web |url=http://www.jeffooi.com/2007/01/rocky_i.php |title=Rocky & I |accessdate=2007-02-22 |author=Jeff Ooi |date=2007-01-24 |publisher=Screenshots ]

References

External links

* [http://rockybru.blogspot.com/ Rocky's Bru] , Ahirudin Attan's blog.