Don't Detain Netizens, Talk to Them Pak Lah.
Malaysia's self-appointed media overlord, information minister Zainuddin Maidin, must be grinning from ear to ear on hearing of the PM's warning to internet news portals, websites and blogs. It must have been sweet music to his aging ears when his boss took a few potshots at Zam's pet nemesis - the internet.
In a way the PM is right when he says that sometimes unsubstantiated claims are made on 'sensitive' issues which are potentially divisive and dangerous. This is especially so in a society like ours which has been likened to a tinderbox of suppressed grievances and emotions pulling in different directions; a country where there is a continous potential for racial strife and violence. It therefore makes sense to be circumspect at all times.
However in restricting or censoring the publication of information, the government too has to be realistic. Firstly there is a promise by the government not to censor or attempt to 'control' the net. That was one of the basics prior to the launch of the MSC. Secondly the public genuinely believes that Pak Lah was serious in his desire not to censor the media. He probably still is. Whether this change of heart is of his own volition or due to other circumstances, I don't know. His son-in-law, for example is getting it left, right and centre in the internet sites on a daily basis. Could his predicament be a reason for this warning from the PM? I hope not. The higher one goes up the ladder the harder one must be prepared to fall. You cannot demand that we're not allowed to describe the climb up or the slide down and the manner in which it was done.
Any clampdown on the internet sites or the owners is only going to make matters worse in the long run. National borders are meaningless in the dissemination of information in the new millennium. You cannot operate with the old mentality of withdrawing permits and closing down printing presses. All it takes is a minute to start a new blog if somehow the older one is 'compromised'. It would be an absolute waste of government resources to even attempt to stem the free flow of information.
What the PM should do is to call for a meeting of the internet bigwigs and 'serious' bloggers including those that the authorities feel have gone overboard and talk to them. Listen to their side of the story. Get a dialogue going. Don't consider the internet publishers as adversaries. Treat them like friends and I'm sure that except for the rabid nutcases most of them will respond positively. Most importantly don't talk down to them.
Herein will lie the problem. This is where the PM has to find time to personally see that things move smoothly and that the pace of consultation is maintained and cordially conducted. Pak Lah has a very likeable personality and he can easily put to ease even a hostile audience. That is a gift. Unfortunately this will be the wrong forum to include the likes of Zainuddin Maidin, that abrasive proponent of total and absolute censorship. Whatever goodwill that the PM garners by inviting the net publishers will be wasted if Zam or others of his ilk and mentality are permitted to interfere or even participate.
So Prime Minister why don't you give it a shot? Even if nothing comes out of it at least you would have tried, although personally I think it will break down barriers and improve relations with the government. On this issue Sir, the ball is in your court.
In a way the PM is right when he says that sometimes unsubstantiated claims are made on 'sensitive' issues which are potentially divisive and dangerous. This is especially so in a society like ours which has been likened to a tinderbox of suppressed grievances and emotions pulling in different directions; a country where there is a continous potential for racial strife and violence. It therefore makes sense to be circumspect at all times.
However in restricting or censoring the publication of information, the government too has to be realistic. Firstly there is a promise by the government not to censor or attempt to 'control' the net. That was one of the basics prior to the launch of the MSC. Secondly the public genuinely believes that Pak Lah was serious in his desire not to censor the media. He probably still is. Whether this change of heart is of his own volition or due to other circumstances, I don't know. His son-in-law, for example is getting it left, right and centre in the internet sites on a daily basis. Could his predicament be a reason for this warning from the PM? I hope not. The higher one goes up the ladder the harder one must be prepared to fall. You cannot demand that we're not allowed to describe the climb up or the slide down and the manner in which it was done.
Any clampdown on the internet sites or the owners is only going to make matters worse in the long run. National borders are meaningless in the dissemination of information in the new millennium. You cannot operate with the old mentality of withdrawing permits and closing down printing presses. All it takes is a minute to start a new blog if somehow the older one is 'compromised'. It would be an absolute waste of government resources to even attempt to stem the free flow of information.
What the PM should do is to call for a meeting of the internet bigwigs and 'serious' bloggers including those that the authorities feel have gone overboard and talk to them. Listen to their side of the story. Get a dialogue going. Don't consider the internet publishers as adversaries. Treat them like friends and I'm sure that except for the rabid nutcases most of them will respond positively. Most importantly don't talk down to them.
Herein will lie the problem. This is where the PM has to find time to personally see that things move smoothly and that the pace of consultation is maintained and cordially conducted. Pak Lah has a very likeable personality and he can easily put to ease even a hostile audience. That is a gift. Unfortunately this will be the wrong forum to include the likes of Zainuddin Maidin, that abrasive proponent of total and absolute censorship. Whatever goodwill that the PM garners by inviting the net publishers will be wasted if Zam or others of his ilk and mentality are permitted to interfere or even participate.
So Prime Minister why don't you give it a shot? Even if nothing comes out of it at least you would have tried, although personally I think it will break down barriers and improve relations with the government. On this issue Sir, the ball is in your court.
posted by The Malaysian. at 8/02/2006 05:29:00 PM
2 Comments:
Very good suggestion. Will someone inform the prime minister please. It might work you know!
Frankly after reading some of the news in the blogspots and following the trend of the writer in his previous postings one can gather whether the writer is impartial or has an agenda. Besides, reading on the same matter on other blogspots or the mainstream media allows one to gauge the credibility of the news posted. Do the authorities think the public is so gullible?
Really if the govt is bent on censuring blogspots how about establihing an authorised ranking system that ranks the credibility of a writer or blogspot that he maintains. Of course not with a bent to favor only those that are pro establishment.
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