KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 - A prominent blogger is returning to the mainstream. Ahirudin ‘Rocky’ Attan, known for his Rockybru weblog that was critical of the Abdullah Administration, has been named as chief executive officer of the 112-year-old The Malay Mail.
His appointment as CEO paves the way for the departure of current chief editor Tony Francis. But the afternoon tabloid will remain under Dynahall Sdn Bhd, which is owned equally by Datuk Ibrahim Mohd Noor’s Simpletech and Media Prima’s Gabungan Kesturi Sdn Bhd.
“Rocky was named CEO today and Tony Francis will leave immediately. Malay Mail will remain outside NSTP,” an editorial executive with the tabloid told The Malaysian Insider after being briefed on the matter this evening.
“Morale is a bit low as the staff are shocked,” he added, saying the staff had tried to prevent Francis from resigning.
Ahirudin was acting editor of The Malay Mail from 2001 and was later made the editor. He took a voluntary separation scheme in February 2006 and was said to have received a substantial pay-off.
He began blogging in May 2006 and built up a following by attacking Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the establishment and supporting Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Following Abdullah’s retirement and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s appointment as the Prime Minister, he has been less critical of the government.
The Malay Mail, founded in 1896, was part of The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad until it sold its 100 percent interest for RM5 million to Dynahall. The purchase did not include the newspaper’s archives, which is seen as a valuable commodity.
Simpletech’s owner Ibrahim has a stake in BlueInc that owns string of lifestyle magazines. Gabungan Kesturi is a substantial shareholder of public-listed Media Prima Berhad which, in turn, is a major shareholder in NSTP Berhad.
Ahirudin was also president of the National Press Club between 2003 and 2007 and recently re-elected as president again. His former editor Datuk Ahmad A. Talib has just been appointed editorial adviser to the NSTP group, which led to speculation that Ahirudin would return in a senior post.

written by gila gila, May 06, 2009
written by miss pravda, May 06, 2009
written by anak tempatan, May 06, 2009
written by angryaboutanything, May 06, 2009
written by ajajal, May 06, 2009
written by Outsider, May 06, 2009
written by lamadahtau, May 06, 2009
Good luck mr prostitute!
written by realinsider, May 06, 2009
This line is a bit of an exaggeration. Yes morale might be low but no one tried to prevent Tony Francis from leaving.
It was a quiet and dignified meeting.
written by sikembangcina, May 06, 2009
written by Samvellu, May 06, 2009
written by MalaysianForever, May 06, 2009
Guess we should stop reading Malay Mail, papers or online. It will more pro-gomen. Don't you think this will augur well for you, traitor.
written by James Loh, May 06, 2009
written by simon li, May 06, 2009
written by casey, May 06, 2009
The signs were there for all to see in the last few months.
After helping his master to hit the master's former master, he is richly rewarded.
Now, he will be going after all the bloggers, on his master's bidding.
Yes, master .................
written by mut, May 06, 2009
If anyone has the time to follow his blog, the trend is there. Oh, he will raise some issues here and there but you just can't miss the slant. Of course the blog owner picks and chooses his issues, but the way he addresses most of the major ones did leave me with the question, "What did they promise him?"
Well, now I have the answer. The second instance of BN's reform promise goes down the drain. The MSM is still wallowing in the BN muck.
The only thing that beats this was the Zaki Tun Azmi elevation to CJ. That was the first instance.
Seriously, what is the difference between Mahathir, Pak Lah and Najib? Precious little. So be wary when they start peddling the reform song-and-dance in the next few years.
written by Jason, May 07, 2009
written by Eric, May 07, 2009
Rocky, you sold yourself pretty well. Lucky, unlike him, some others still have principles.
written by amoker, May 07, 2009
written by suaramalaysia, May 07, 2009
written by johnny alpha, May 07, 2009
well, don't expect the MM to get ay better under this guy! why? because like every other editor of every other newspaper in this country that's owned by the UMNO-MCA-MIC mafia, he'll just be another 'gosok telur kerajaan' newspaperman- overpaid, overrated and 'over there (in bolehland)'!
written by itchy, May 07, 2009
written by P.A.Chew, May 07, 2009
written by sympathiser, May 07, 2009
written by ajax, May 07, 2009
written by Suresh, May 07, 2009
Just another sell out in the name of journalist
written by hkm, May 08, 2009
written by Nico, May 09, 2009
written by mark, May 09, 2009
written by cencurut, May 10, 2009
written by Orang Sabah, May 10, 2009
written by rocky's poo, May 14, 2009
Rocky says he has not been appointed as the CEO of Malay Mail.
So which is which?
Either you make a correction, apologise of you stand your ground, by confirming your story, with more verifiable sources.
Hey did something happen?
Like MM did not acceed to Rocky's conditions?
Or that they couldnt pay enough?
Rocky says he's not a small fry so the momey must be big for him to return to MM.
Anyhow, please tell us which is true. Please update your story and put Rocky to shame.
We know, because he admitted, that he would jump back to MM, once the "conditions" are right.
For pro-UMNO machais - the right conditions would only mean two things: money and power.
written by Thinking Two, June 01, 2009
No wonder I cannot get a copy fo the malay mail from post office lah:-)
written by TreeUnder, June 01, 2009
Mail & Mirror will just be the hardware. Content and Delivery - those are the critical success factors! U can write a nice piece of music but if the musicians play their own tunes instead ... forget about the posh auditorium!
We aint stupid!




