Ahirudin Attan

Datuk Ahirudin bin Attan, (born 20 December 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.[1][2][3]

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Attan is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Ahirudin.
Yang Berbahagia Datuk

Ahirudin Attan

PMW KMN
Born (1961-12-20) December 20, 1961
Lubok Cina, Melaka, Federation of Malaya (present-day Malaysia)
Alma materUniversiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
Occupation(s)Media practitioner, journalist, blogger
Years active1985–present
Children3
Websitewww.rockybru.com.my

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 or UiTM). In 1992, he served as the group's London correspondent and furthered his studies in Cardiff in 1993, taking up a course in Advanced Journalism.[4] 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. Following a restructuring of the news desk, he was reappointed as the Executive Editor of both the Malay Mail and Sunday Mail on 1 May 2004.[4][5]

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 in May 2006, amid speculation that included a "run-in with the present head honchos in the organisation."[1] Ahirudin had been with the NSTP for 21 years.

Ahirudin was the President of the National Press Club from 2003 to 31 March 2007, and was succeeded by Mokhtar Hussain, his brother,[4][6] and remained as its adviser until March 2009. He is also an Editorial Consultant, and columnist.

Blogging

In May 2006, Ahirudin started Rocky's Bru,[7] a Blogger.com-based blog centred 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,[8] and has prompted the group to launch a lawsuit against him, alongside blogger Jeff Ooi, on 11 January 2007, for libel.[9][10][11] As of March 2008, the suit is in progress.

On 6 April 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.[12][13]

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] Sunday Times to respond. Had it gone on and on it would've been a healthy debate."[14]

Personal life

Ahirudin was born in Lubok Cina, Melaka. He is a father of three children, a son and two daughters. One of his children is Ahirine, who is also follow his footsteps as a media practitioner as well as an actress.[15]

References
  1. Jeff Ooi (17 June 2006). "In Dispatch from Malaysia: Journalists who blog". CNET Asia. Archived from the original on 8 June 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
  2. Attan, Ahirudin (20 September 2007). "Excuse me, WTF registered me as a voter?". Rocky's Bru. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2007.
  3. B. K. Sidhu (2 May 2012). "Optinet in 3-cornered fight for Jaring". The Star Online. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  4. Jeff Ooi (17 February 2006). "The new Malay Male". Screenshots. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
  5. "The Malay Mail > History". The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad website. Archived from the original on 2 March 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
  6. Ahirudin Attan (1 April 2007). "The NPC President and I". rocky's bru. Archived from the original on 22 April 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
  7. Ahirudin Attan (21 May 2006). "TIME FLIES". rocky's bru. Archived from the original on 2 April 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
  8. Ahirudin Attan (5 June 2006). "FOR ADULTS ONLY?". rocky's bru. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
  9. Ahirudin Attan (18 January 2007). "Bloggers sued in Malaysia (previously "Injunction")". rocky's bru. Archived from the original on 25 January 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
  10. Jeff Ooi (18 January 2007). "Bloggers sued in Malaysia". Screenshots. Archived from the original on 20 February 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
  11. Jeff Ooi (18 January 2007). "Bloggers sued in Malaysia... ( 2 )". Screenshots. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
  12. "Bloggers form grouping". The Star Online (in Malay). 6 April 2007. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2007.
  13. Salhan K. Ahmad (5 April 2007). "Penulis blog tubuh 'pakatan nasional'". mStar Online. Archived from the original on 8 April 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2007.
  14. Jeff Ooi (24 January 2007). "Rocky & I". Screenshots. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
  15. Dennis Chua (5 August 2022). "#Showbiz: Ahirine pursues her acting passion". New Straits Times. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
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