Mainstream Media Told To Discredit Blogs, While Some Want Them Compulsorily Registered.
The mainstream media should play a role in deflecting wild allegations and slanders spread through the internet and blogs, says Deputy Information Minister Datuk Zahid Hamidi.
According to him the mainstream media including the official government media should provide the 'correct' explanation about allegations spread through the internet or blogs, especially if the allegations were targeted at the government and its policies. "(This is because) not all the information (and slanders) spread through internet or blogs are accurate," the wise one added.
"We do not want the public to be deceived by inaccurate information including those that are slanderous." He said in the era of information and communication technology (ICT), it was impossible to curb the bloggers or to stop them from spreading lies through the internet.
In the arrogant fashion of the enlightened and intelligent politician and privileged member of the ruling class, our aristocratic Zahid added that the public are still gullible and could be easily influenced by the 'inaccurate' information they obtained from the internet. As far as he is concerned, his only aim is 'saving' you, the readers of blogs including this one, because all of you are gullible, can't think for yourselves and need the 'guidance' of those at the apex of the country's leadership who are the only discerning creatures on this planet.
Ahmad Zahid also advised bloggers to be ethical and responsible in their writings. "They should have ethics ... everyone (should) have ethics and self-respect. We hope the bloggers will also have ethics and self respect," he said. By that of course he means please do write only nice things about the government. If you tell the 'truth' or at least the government's version of the 'truth' then you are all responsible people with self respect. How does one explain to him that those who wish to tell the truth as they see it, are by and large responsible people, do believe they have self respect, are ethical and publish impartially, whether the content puts the government in a bad light or not?
And what is the point of asking the mainstream media to help you? Aren't they already bending over backwards in accommodating your every wish and fancy? Because of the government's ways, the mainstream media does not have the credibility that should have been its due. The more they try to discredit internet news, the more believable the blogs become. That is the harsh reality whether the authorities want to accept it or not. Moreover the readership does not have the kind of access to put forth their views as they now can on the net. Try writing a strongly worded letter to the newspapers against any government department, public servant or official and the chances are that it will not be published. The net gives Mat Public that crucial avenue which the government all these years has irresponsibly and unethically, albeit 'legally,' deprived the citizens of, and still foolishly tries to do so on the internet as well.
While Zahid at least speaks only about rebutting the internet media, Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha seriously believes that registering bloggers, perhaps with the modus operandi the government employed against prepaid cell-phone users, may be a "stricter" way to stop cyberspace writers from spreading disharmony and lies!! "We need to have stricter cyber laws to prevent these bloggers from disseminating disharmony, chaos, seditious material and lies. We are talking about creating cyber laws to control those who misuse the Internet," he added. Citing the example of the recent picture of Gombak MP Datuk Dr Rahman Ismail and Senator Datin Paduka Norhayati Onn, Kong said it reflected the irresponsible acts of some bloggers. Basically this mini Mao wannabe, deputy minister, 'King' Kong, is cheesed off that DAP MP Teng Chang Khim basked in the limelight with his blogging scoop, while the BNputras stood shamefully at the sidelines with their heads bowed.
This is the typical thinking of one with the mentality of a dictator. "Agree with me or your option of disagreeing will be removed," is in essence the way the government has been operating in the past. But the Mahathirean bad days are over, hopefully never to return. Pak Lah has promised a new deal and he has so far resisted attempts to crackdown on the internet and rightfully so. Apart from it being a futile effort it will also reflect poorly on the Prime Minister's credibility. Blogging, Ladies and Gentlemen, is here to stay.
According to him the mainstream media including the official government media should provide the 'correct' explanation about allegations spread through the internet or blogs, especially if the allegations were targeted at the government and its policies. "(This is because) not all the information (and slanders) spread through internet or blogs are accurate," the wise one added.
"We do not want the public to be deceived by inaccurate information including those that are slanderous." He said in the era of information and communication technology (ICT), it was impossible to curb the bloggers or to stop them from spreading lies through the internet.
In the arrogant fashion of the enlightened and intelligent politician and privileged member of the ruling class, our aristocratic Zahid added that the public are still gullible and could be easily influenced by the 'inaccurate' information they obtained from the internet. As far as he is concerned, his only aim is 'saving' you, the readers of blogs including this one, because all of you are gullible, can't think for yourselves and need the 'guidance' of those at the apex of the country's leadership who are the only discerning creatures on this planet.
Ahmad Zahid also advised bloggers to be ethical and responsible in their writings. "They should have ethics ... everyone (should) have ethics and self-respect. We hope the bloggers will also have ethics and self respect," he said. By that of course he means please do write only nice things about the government. If you tell the 'truth' or at least the government's version of the 'truth' then you are all responsible people with self respect. How does one explain to him that those who wish to tell the truth as they see it, are by and large responsible people, do believe they have self respect, are ethical and publish impartially, whether the content puts the government in a bad light or not?
And what is the point of asking the mainstream media to help you? Aren't they already bending over backwards in accommodating your every wish and fancy? Because of the government's ways, the mainstream media does not have the credibility that should have been its due. The more they try to discredit internet news, the more believable the blogs become. That is the harsh reality whether the authorities want to accept it or not. Moreover the readership does not have the kind of access to put forth their views as they now can on the net. Try writing a strongly worded letter to the newspapers against any government department, public servant or official and the chances are that it will not be published. The net gives Mat Public that crucial avenue which the government all these years has irresponsibly and unethically, albeit 'legally,' deprived the citizens of, and still foolishly tries to do so on the internet as well.
While Zahid at least speaks only about rebutting the internet media, Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha seriously believes that registering bloggers, perhaps with the modus operandi the government employed against prepaid cell-phone users, may be a "stricter" way to stop cyberspace writers from spreading disharmony and lies!! "We need to have stricter cyber laws to prevent these bloggers from disseminating disharmony, chaos, seditious material and lies. We are talking about creating cyber laws to control those who misuse the Internet," he added. Citing the example of the recent picture of Gombak MP Datuk Dr Rahman Ismail and Senator Datin Paduka Norhayati Onn, Kong said it reflected the irresponsible acts of some bloggers. Basically this mini Mao wannabe, deputy minister, 'King' Kong, is cheesed off that DAP MP Teng Chang Khim basked in the limelight with his blogging scoop, while the BNputras stood shamefully at the sidelines with their heads bowed.
This is the typical thinking of one with the mentality of a dictator. "Agree with me or your option of disagreeing will be removed," is in essence the way the government has been operating in the past. But the Mahathirean bad days are over, hopefully never to return. Pak Lah has promised a new deal and he has so far resisted attempts to crackdown on the internet and rightfully so. Apart from it being a futile effort it will also reflect poorly on the Prime Minister's credibility. Blogging, Ladies and Gentlemen, is here to stay.
Labels: Malaysia - General, Media Matters.
posted by The Malaysian. at 12/03/2006 12:59:00 PM
8 Comments:
Salam,
I'm doing a malaysian website to ease us checking updates from other malaysian blogs. You may visit it at http://www.mylink.com.my
Appreciate if you could run up about the website in your blog for support. Many thanks!
:)
Hello,
I always believed that blogging is all about you and me,what our opinion is,our thoughts, our views.I never thought that we could scare those government fellas so much that they want to shut us up.
"Blogging, Ladies and Gentlemen, is here to stay."
Agreed. And ever more, the perception that bloggers have more credibility than the mainstream media is gaining hand in the minds of the populace. How do you expect the average Dick and Jane to accept the veracity of mainstream news, even foreign news, when all they ever do is parrot the official line spelled out by the ruling party?
Furthermore, it should be noted that the two vernacular newspapers, Utusan D**** and B**** Harian, merely serve as an UMNO propaganda mouthpiece; akin to Pravda newspaper during the time of the USSR at its best, and at its worst akin to the Rwandan RTML radio station during the mid 90s.
Bloggers should be made to understand the doublespeak employed by Mamak Mydin's hatchetman : It is a tacit aknowledgement they lack the resources and skills to control and oversee the Internet. Believe me, if they could exert even an iota of control, Mamak Mydin would been the first to swagger and issue dire warnings and threats against every blogger within reach.
But of course, that does not mean that none of us cannot be smoked out. Far from it. The only question that remains is what 'UFTI' is UMNO willing to dish out to other parties in order subdue and threaten bloggers?
Oh, as a follow-up to my last comment regarding UFTI...it has something to do with a gag order imposed on a certain suspected terrorist upon his release from Kamunting...
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/7/26/nation/14945258&sec=nation
In this The Star article, Badawi says “If someone makes a racist remark, do you need to put it in the press, even if it is true?”
This was written a few months ago. But, Not Too Long ago. Do you suppose Badawi already knew about the remarks that would be uttered in the Umno GA and that he was trying to preemptively control the media fallout?
Our politicians must hate the net. They now cannot play racist tactics and expect it to fade away into obscurity. Their past statements and actions can be recalled today by bloggers who care to research into such material. Najib probably should worry, he is now trying to be a moderate(or so he projects) as he prepares himself for the post of PM(or so he hopes). But we know that he is one of the original keris wavers, with the explicit reference to Chinese blood.
If the judiciary has been wiped out as a control to the executive, then it is the responsibility of the media to be that control. Democracy demands it!
Old uncle Kong, the Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, needs to talk tough about registering Malaysian bloggers because of the coming cabinet reshuffle...or else he would be out of it and also not allowed to run in the next general election.
gentlemen, worry not !
It is impossible to control bloggers,by any party other than Google. So only way is to close internet.
Talk Big cannot even control own khalwats ....cyberspace ?
u goota b kidding !
While the world moves on, our politicians are still trying to convince the people that they want to protect the public from being misled and corrupted by information spread through the Internet. They want the people to believe that only the government can be trusted. The recent incident in which the fire breathed and the venom spit by some politicians from a ruling coalition component party against their fellow Malaysians in their political rhetoric has brought down the moral standard and the credibility of their party, directly or indirectly. They forget that they carry the responsibility of upholding the moral value of the society even though they claim to be speaking for their community. Those who are utterly irresponsible must be seen to be held accountable, and they need to realize that they can no longer get off the hook easily, as we are now in the Internet Age. In this case the internet plays an essential role in heaping public opinion against them. It is sad to see here that the honorable deputy ministers have to speak in the conventional way in order to seen to be doing their job. But they may not be able to continue doing so for long, as many people will tell them, as in this case, it is the government which is seen to be trying to mislead the people.
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