There Goes Zam Again, Vilifying Bloggers Like A Man Possessed

Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin is increasingly beginning to sound like a man who seems as if he's not all there. While launching the Malaysian Press Institute's (MPI) new logo he very reasonably reminded bloggers of their responsibilities in maintaining harmony among Malaysia's multiracial society.

But then he upped the ante by saying that bloggers, being the so-called "citizen journalists", must not abuse the freedom given by the government and must be responsible in their writings and actions so as not to jeopardise the unity among the people. "We do not consider them (bloggers) as a threat but we do not want to return to the era where we depend on rumours (for news)." He as usual went off on a tangent, referring to his pet subject, the 'inviolable' social contract and his views on it which in his tiny mind should also probably be the national view, including those of all the leaders of every political party and every citizen irrespective of whether they subscribe to it or not.

***** Kindly take note of the several glaring untruths that Zam has spoken in those few sentences. As all of you know, the government has not given any 'freedom' to bloggers as such. Malaysians, like everyone the world over have been empowered, without government approval or blessings, by the creation of blogs to give their thoughts and opinion a public voice. In fact the reverse of what Zam says, would be nearer the truth, because if given half-a-chance people like him would very rapidly dismantle blogs and every other device which enables ordinary citizens to reach a large readership. This man would be fully satisfied and at peace with himself, if your only avenue of 'news' is from Utusan Malaysia, NST, RTM and Jabatan Penerangan propaganda. Banning the vernacular press and the rest of the 'decadent' English media and a total abolition of any platform even remotely resembling blogs would be the dream of dreams of this die-hard, reactionary old relic.

You can read the full Bernama report HERE
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