I know I am going against the grain of government thinking in asking Parliament to give serious attention to blogs by Malaysians, especially when the Internal Security Ministry has just warned the mainstream newspapers in the country against quoting and publishing “anti-government articles” from online portals and blogs.
The clarification by the Internal Security Ministry’s Publications Control and Al-Quran Texts Unit senior officer Che Din Yusof who sent out the warning to mainstream newspapers that his letter was a “request” and not a “directive” does not wash, when newspapers were also reminded that condition 11 of their publishing permit required them to “follow and not act against” such directives issued by the ministry.
Che Din has said that the Internal Security Ministry does not want the newspapers to get the people to believe everything that comes from blogs and the Internet portals.
Is it the business of the Internal Security Ministry to get the people to believe mainstream media and disbelieve blogs and Internet portals? Isn’t this a violation of the Bill of Guarantees proclaimed to the world by the Malaysian Government when launching the Multi-Media Super Corridor in 1996 — in trying to influence the mainstream media and the people at large to disbelieve blogs and Internet portals?
In fact, isn’t the government turning its back to the knowledge-based economy and the information and communication technology in adopting such an anti-blog and anti-Internet portals mindset and culture?
Will the government support efforts of blogs and Internet portals to expose the lies and falsehoods in the mainstream media — particularly against Opposition and dissenting groups and Malaysians?
Is the Internal Security Ministry standing up for truth and diversity of opinions and views or is it just a mere instrument of government parties to suppress dissent and muzzle information unfavourable to the ruling coalition although this is good for the promotion of an information society and knowledge economy?
The government-controlled mainstream media had often been guilty of misinformation and disinformation about the Opposition, especially during general election campaigns.
There is no need to open this dark and shameful chapter of mainstream media in Malaysia as there are ample examples of the mainstream media not being a paragon of truth and virtue.
Early this month, the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan issued a bald denial that he had made a statement as published in a front-page Utusan Malaysia lead story, “Saya mahu BPR siasat Johari” on 5th Marc h 2007.
In a statement published only by Bernama, Musa said he had neither been interviewed nor had he issued a statement as published.
The Utusan Malaysia story, by-lined Ruhaidini Abd. Kadir, had reported that Musa had said he did not want to enter into a polemic with the Deputy Internal Security Minister, Datuk Mohd Johari Baharom over the RM5.5 million Emergency Ordinance (EO) “freedom for sale” scandal and Johari’s claim that the police failed to provide sufficient evidence and did not investigate properly criminals referred to under the Emergency Ordinance.
Musa was reported to have called for a fair investigation to be conducted by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to determine who was right or who was wrong in the allegation that Johari received RM5.5 million bribes for releasing criminal suspects under the Emergency Ordinance.
Who to believe — the Utusan Malaysia journalist Ruhaidini Abd. Kadir whose byline appeared next to the report or IGP Musa?
I would tend to believe Rahaidini for two reasons:
Firstly, the Utusan Malaysia front-page report carried a Q & A transcript of the interview with Musa — something which could not be concocted from thin air. Clearly Rahadidini had the interview with Musa on tape.
Secondly, if Rahaidini had concocted the interview in the Utusan Malaysia, Musa should have declared him a “persona non grata” and ban him from all police interviews and contacts.
But no, Musa continued to entertain Rahaidini, resulting in another front-page by-line story in the Utusan Malaysia, “Polis siasat suspek — Kenal pasti tahan bawah Ordinan Darurat boleh bebas — Musa” the very next day.
Was the Internal Security Ministry Publications Control Unit really concerned whether the truth or falsehoods are published in mainstream media, or is it only concerned about the growing influence of blogs and Internet portals?
The Internal Security Ministry’s attempt to muzzle and shackle the mainstream media, with the Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow often calling up Chinese newspaper editors by playing the self-admitted role of “super media editor”, must be deplored, and such practices must be stopped — starting with the retraction of the directive to the mainstream newspapers by Che Din.
[Speech (7) on Royal Address debate in Parliament 21.3.07]
#1 by dawsheng on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 12:41 am
I suspect when the GE is near, the government will launch a crackdown on bloggers by using ISA.
#2 by Pengajar on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 12:45 am
On one hand, the government wants its’ people to be I.T. / computer literate. On another hand, the government thinks that the public’s own interpretation of what is going on in the country and from reading other blogs must be restricted. So what do they the politicians in power actually want ? For one family to own one computer with internet service will mean that there will be a lot of different opinions. You will or you will not know what the other person is really thinking about .
#3 by DarkHorse on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 1:12 am
Pengajar,
The government’s declared aim was to see that each Malaysian family could afford the cost and the use of one computer at home i.e. for Malaysians to be computer literate. That was made when Mahathir was PM and his son was given the contract of providing computers to schools.
Computers do not, as you know, come with internet connections. In Malaysia internet penetration is low by international standards because it is expensive. Internet access is limited.
“For one family to own one computer with internet service will mean that there will be a lot of different opinions.”
Are you saying that different opinions come only with the internet?
#4 by osaya on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 5:26 am
say what they will, as long as the news from selected (read: not all) blogs and internet news portals remains accurate and consistent with the truth, the people will be drawn to it like insects to a flame.
as it is, it appears that the mainstream media is trying to publish the facts ‘by proxy’ as they daren’t put their own necks on the line.. if someone’s putting a gun to your head to not tell the truth, what better way than to to say “er.. a certain source said that…” sad isn’t it?
#5 by Jefus on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 6:41 am
The internet allows a bigger pool for discussion A bigger audience/participants with a bigger variety of experiences and ideas. This is the advantage to a soapbox in the park.
The penetration of the computer/internet into the rural areas is poor. The education divide is also to fault.
‘Will the government support efforts of blogs and Internet portals to expose the lies and falsehoods in the mainstream media – particularly against Opposition and dissenting groups and Malaysians?’
‘lies and falsehoods’ – meaning the public cannot decide for themselves? More like ‘Questioning the choice of the rakyat’? This sounds like hoodwinking the voting public again.
Judging from the utterances of the people in power lately, I dont thing the Government are in any position to call the public ‘too stupid to think for themselves’
#6 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 8:14 am
Malaysian home PC penetration is only 20% despite having 14million internet user. If our government cannot deal with the internet and bloggers at this rate, imagine ubiquitous mobile internet availability?
That is the real danger, the government is frailing to deal with the march of modernity and technology as well as globalization.
They think the untruth of the internet is a real problem? The real problem is that with the internet, many other countries can do what we do for a living and sooner of later they will catch up and eat our lunch. Malaysians and our government are living on borrowed time of rich resources and exploitation of decreasing productive minority. They are still pissing it away even as this realization is already here among the citizen.
Untruth on the itnernet is the least of their problem. Breaking the promises of GE 2004 is the root of that. Fufill the promises and lying bloggers have nothing to go on. How about that Zam?
#7 by k1980 on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 9:11 am
Machap has more than 10,000 registered voters, 46 per cent of whom are Chinese, 38 per cent Malays and 15 per cent Indians. The DAP must make every effort to win this time.
http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/newsncom.php?itemid=3252
#8 by Taiko on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 9:21 am
Whatever is written on the internet or whatever rumours circulates in the cyber world, may not be true.
But isn’t it all the reason the government should clarify and answer all these questions?
The lack of transparency created all the suspicions. If the government agencies such as ACA could not check or hold the government to account, the citizens will talk.
#9 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 9:25 am
The proliferation and success of blogs and internet newsmakers (like Malaysiakini) as an alternative media is a huge blow to the Malaysian government-controlled media (including newspapers, TV, radio).
For the first time in our history, internet penetration (which, fortunately for him, had yet to take off in TDM’s era) is the rage today for just-in-time news. Malaysians now have an alternative source of news particularly of news suppressed by government media for no other reason than that it was the ‘ugly truths’ that exposed corruption and misdeeds of government apparatchiks and so unfavourable to the powers that be.
What the government tried to suppress, time and time again, proved to be the truth days or weeks later. This led to the unmistakable and inexorable erosion of confidence towards government media and further reinforced the credibility of blogs and media like Malaysaikini and other online news portals including those from overseas as more credible and swifter sources of news. It was a damning indictment on the integrity of the Malayisan government and its media and a huge source of embarrassment when foreign news agencies are able to report local news which do not see the light of day in Malaysian press. Now you tell me who has shot itself in the foot in the way the media has been controlled and suppressed? Now isn’t it true that they now have to swallow shit who have been trowelling shit in their backyards? Providentially, the emergence of whistleblowers who now are able to shield behind the cloak of anonymity on the internet emboldened the silent majority who had grown disenchanted with the rulers and their sham integrity and religiosity which in turn hastened the collapse of credibility of the government media. Then came others who spilt the beans, long after the facts, which lent credence to what-has-long-been-known but suppressed from public scrutiny and knowledge eg. the confessions of former judge Syed Idid,former TNB supremo Ani Arope and now Ramli of Sabah ACA. Much of today’s rot had its roots and entrenchment during the era of irresponsibility of TDM, notwithstanding his rather nice youthful smile and sarcastic shove-offs. This man was and is draconian. Absolutely so.
It’s too late for AAB’s administration to set the clock back and try to suppress the free flow of informationthrough the internet. There’s only one way for the government to redeem itself i.e. transparency, integrity and accountability. The government would never need to fudge and lie to cover a multitude of other lies if it was honest and fair and honourable. The internet portals that thrive on such local fodder would then be asphyxiated and famished for fodder for its grist mill.
Having said that, do we expect AAB’s administration to do that? Can we expect earth to swing out of the Milky Way?. A leopard canot change its stripes. Therefore, one may expect that the AAB’s adminstration may well make history as the party that lost the 2007/2008 GE to the Opposition. And as they say, insya Allah and then Alhamdulilah.
#10 by HJ Angus on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 10:20 am
Interestingly I do get a few visits from NST on my blog.
Newpapers have become somewhat disconnected from the general public as they all tend to parrot the government’s standpoint only and only the SUN appears to shine.
#11 by smeagroo on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 12:06 pm
You are a disgrace to the nation’s building and gearing up for internet age. Being an info minster, I doubt you know anything apart from swicthing on a computer and pulling the plug if u need to shut it down.
#12 by sheriff singh on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 2:35 pm
Perhaps the propenent and founder of Islam Hadhari would like to revisit his 10 commandments, laws or tenets to see how many of it are violated:
Faith and piety in Allah
Just and trustworthy government
Freedom and independence to the people
Mastery of knowledge
Balanced and comprehensive economic development
Good quality of life for all
Protection of the rights of minority groups and women
Cultural and moral integrity
Protection of the environment
A strong defence policy
#13 by negarawan on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 2:55 pm
HJ Angus Says:
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:20 am
Interestingly I do get a few visits from NST on my blog.
——————————–
NST has been known to plagiarize. So don’t be surprised if you see some of your materials and ideas published, with modifications.
BTW, keep up the good work!
#14 by blueheeler on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 3:20 pm
Listen to http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/analysis.shtml. The programme talks about how govts such as Myanmar and China clamp down on internet contents. It’s scary to think how easy it would be for the Malaysia govt to do the same thing! But end of the programme also says that these govts are being tough to cyberspace because it may just be strong enough to topple a govt, one day.
#15 by HJ Angus on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 4:25 pm
negarawan
Thanks.
To me if the idea is good and someone borrows it to help Malaysia improve it is OK by me.
I am not in a position to influence in other means as I belong to that other race known as “Others” so it implies not in the human category.
I have put the term “human” in some stupid forms that ask for race!
#16 by HJ Angus on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 4:47 pm
endangered hornbill
“A leopard canot change its stripes”.
Maybe a zebra? I think you mean “spots”
The hardest challenge for AAB is to break out of the system that placed him in power.
That is the most difficult problem to engineer and even for LKY it was touch and go as to whether he would be able to triumph over his socialist colleagues in their struggle for control of Singapore.
But when he gained control he was quite ruthless to get rid of all opposition.
#17 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 5:09 pm
The government’s prime concern is that whistleblowers – and there are many disgruntled within its woodwork – will leak out embarrassing disclosure of its foibles and shenanigans to the blogs and internet online bulletin and from there to the mainstream populace via news carried by mainstream papers, which at this moment still have greater reach and penetration, and influence than the Internet.
The conventional thinking is that if PC penetration is only 20% despite having 14million internet user, then those who visit the blogs may be only a fraction of this figure, say, 1 or 2%, not significant enough for the government to be alarmed provided it can stop the transmigration of what is stated in the blogs to the mainstream media.
Short of strict controls and clamp on the Internet like the governments of Myanmar, Republic China, North Korea and to an extent Singapore – which the Government here is bound by the Bills of Guarantee for MSC not to do – there’s little much that the government can do other than to deliver veiled threat (by reminding condition 11 of publishing permit) in the form of a “request†against mainstream’s media quoting and publishing “anti-government articles†from online portals and blogs.
This is however not convincing because what is exactly an anti-government article?
The problem is caused in part by the PM’s manifesto for integrity governance which includes mottos like speak and work with him in the war against graft. This implies that any disclosure exposing corrupt acts, though embarrassing to the government, is not necessarily “anti-government†since it is in line with PM’s professed war against graft, a war that cannot be successfully waged without disclosure!
This is where the government gets itself caught in the bind.
To protect its political image, the government could plant paid operatives in the blogs to tell the government’s side story – I am sure this has been done – but so far it has not been useful because, firstly, these operatives are not that articulate or capable and, secondly, it is uphill battle to try to deny legitimate criticisms and defend the untruth in blogosphere where one will be easily contradicted, discredited and exposed.
The government may try to open its own website to explain its sides of the story but chances are not many will visit these sites for any significant impact on the goals to be achieved.
The fact is little space for a government to manoeuvre when dealing with the Internet : it either embraces it in entirety or repudiates it.
Since it is not realistic to take the latter course – Internet is here to stay and cannot be wished away -, freedom of speech and grass root democracy inherent in Internet have to be tolerated and managed (rather than repressed), with all its beneficent effects as well as warts, constructive criticisms, as well as unfounded rumours and destructive criticisms, leaving it to the ordinary law of the land on defamation and sedition to arbitrate and curb the excesses.
There are no two ways about it.
The constructive way is to use the embarrassing exposure in the Internet to rectify and correct the wrongs.
The people will judge not just on the incidences of such shenanigans exposed but what is done about them by way of rectifying the wrongdoings after the exposure.
#18 by sheriff singh on Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 11:27 pm
Lets face it. The BN government is really running scared of bloggers and the internet.
So make use of blogs at the next General Elections.
Also SMS messages. See how quickly they multiply.
Can make a big difference if you make use of them effectively.
Really like your illustrations, caricatures, diagrams, etc accompanying each blog entry. Very, very effective. Keep it up. Maybe use it for your elections campaign.