– The Malaysian Insider
Mar 02, 2013
MARCH 2 – One wonders where Datuk Maglin Dennis D’Cruz was on April 3, 2009 when Datuk Seri Najib Razak took office as Prime Minister and said “the days of government knows best is over”.
One wonders where D’Cruz was during the Budget 2013 speech last year when Najib proposed a fund to give smartphone rebates for youths to enable them to access the Internet.
One wonders where this man who is Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Culture was when Najib dubbed this year’s polls as a “social media election”.
Why? Because this unelected politician said today the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was looking into suitable methods to monitor and control the use of social media in the general election.
Monitor and control? Is this some hermit socialist or communist state we are living in where the authorities do not trust its citizens using social media tools?
State news agency Bernama quoted D’Cruz as saying the MCMC will monitor all users of social media, regardless of their political beliefs, to ensure peace and smooth running of the general election.
He goes on to say monitoring of the social media was vital as certain quarters were only good at making baseless allegations and spreading lies to gain political mileage, adding that he himself had once fallen victim to such lies and accusations.
Thank you for your experience, Mr Deputy Minister but the MCMC has more responsibilities than to police the Internet. They already have to manage the rebate scheme for smartphones, phone and data service quality and coverage and also broadcasters.
Why can’t those who the deputy minister say “should not be so selfish and lie just for the sake of gaining political mileage because what matters most in politics was to ensure that the people will live in peace and harmony” be left to the police when reports are made.
In fact, one should even ask the deputy minister if people at large also trust politicians to do their job rather than play politics at an event organised by a government department.
Isn’t that abusing your office as much as you fear others will abuse social media for their own ends.
Politicians like D’Cruz are an anachronism for Najib who wants to widen the use of social media for innovation and to push Malaysia as a country of talents with high incomes.
Monitoring and controlling what people do on social media is akin to what the Soviets did when they ruled Russia. It just dumbs down people to become sheep.
Malaysia can do without such politicians like D’Cruz who only think of controlling people’s minds. These are dinosaurs best left as museum exhibits and a reminder we need a society that is responsible for what it does, rather than one that lives under the shadow of control.
#1 by Loh on Sunday, 3 March 2013 - 9:56 am
///Dr Mahathir said the younger generation were less appreciative of what they have for they were not even born when the older generation were struggling to gain independence from the British colonial power. ///–MalaysianInsider
Mamakthir thinks that the young can be fooled just because they were on their way to life when history took place. He thinks that history books used in Malaysian schools are all Malaysians get to read, and to believe without thinking.
Malaysian leaders who won independent for Malaya then were the chosen partners of the British when British had to give up colonies after the Second World War. These leaders had done well to preserve rule of law for the country, for a while until May 13.
The older generation that struggled, fighting against the British, to gain independence, failed and they are considered terrorists, to this days.
Malaysians leaders who negotiated independence from the British did not struggle; they had peaceful discussions.
#2 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 3 March 2013 - 9:59 am
Since when have UMNO/BN politicians NOT have silly ideas and fantasy. In fact, THEIR CORE IDEOLOGY of Ketuanan and feudal racist and religo-politics IS SILLY FANTASY..
The fact is they HAVE come a long way with their silly ideas and we allowed them – all the billions wasted and the division in our society deepened, injustices caused for what ? – not only losing to Korea, Singapore etc, but to also fast losing to our closest neigbours..
#3 by yhsiew on Sunday, 3 March 2013 - 10:38 am
D’Cruz is waiting to receive a diamond crown from his political masters.
#4 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Sunday, 3 March 2013 - 12:21 pm
The way Malaysian policemen are dropping like flies to Filipino intruders remind us of how the japanese overran peninsular Malaya like lightning.
Hello, where is our 1/2 million strong army and policemen?
Najib, where is Scorpene? Aiyoyo…what kind of a commander-in-chief is this?
#5 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 3 March 2013 - 1:12 pm
If you look at reports from (independent) Malaysiakini tricking in (headlines – “5 cops killed in Semporna” and “more armed intruders have landed”, the fast unflding drama in Sabah shows that we’re heading for fight there, likely guerilla insurgency, that holds prospect of widening than containment. Its not something easily resolved- the question of compromising on sovereignty over Sabah is out of the question, and the question of insurgents backing off is remote as if supported by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), not to mention we don’t know how their supporters given ICs under Project might act as behind the front resistance sleepers. This classic opportunity for those fearful of confronting the GE to suspend it by declaration of emergency, and in so doing postpone the day of reckoning, also availing perfect opportunity in the meanwhile from this external threat to try unite people and galvanise support under banner of patriotism, sweeping under carpet people’s dissatisfaction of misgovernance and misdeeds. What a reprieve!
#6 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 3 March 2013 - 1:52 pm
Come GE-13, every handphone is Sabah will have a picture of empty streets of Lahad Datu. Sampoerna or dead cops in Sabah and blame Mahathir and Project IC for it..
Say Bye-Bye Sabah, UMNO/BN..
#7 by boh-liao on Sunday, 3 March 2013 - 2:17 pm
First, msm announced shooting in Semporna NOT RELATED 2 armed intruders in Lahad Datu 1
NOW, 5 cops KILLED by armed intruders in Semporna, wah lau, WTF!
N d MCA NYY big mouth far/ted “Sabah is still safe for tourism” – go visit Sabah n watch gun battles FREE of charge
Wonder will she n pornoSnake invite Psy 2 oppa in Sabah? R NR n HH there? Or hiding in holes like Saddam did?
#8 by Loh on Sunday, 3 March 2013 - 2:35 pm
The authority thought that they wanted to be instant Malaysians. But they choose to remain the subject of their Sultan. I wonder whether these people went through the immigration check point, or they just landed where they want. Of course when they landed, the Scorpene was submerged. They should allowed scorpene to float rather than making it submarine.
#9 by chengho on Sunday, 3 March 2013 - 3:21 pm
in Singapore they call it Cyber Cop
#10 by monsterball on Sunday, 3 March 2013 - 5:07 pm
What do you expect Dennis D’Cruz to say….that Oppositions do not tell lies?
He knows the truth hurts BN and especially Umno b…and they are losing voters confidence.
And so…he has to say something….and when BN politicians talk….you can treat them as clowns performing.
#11 by Noble House on Monday, 4 March 2013 - 12:28 am
In Malaysia, they call it Peeping Tom. Try not to become a man of success but a man of value!