"Blogs Don't Worry Me," Says Zainuddin Maidin

Malaysia's Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin has said that the government will not be affected by blogs and other Internet forums that may be created during campaigning for the upcoming elections.

Mr Zainuddin insisted that while the younger generation are tech-savvy, they tend to believe newspaper reports over comments made on the Internet, China Press reported.

He added that the Internet is used mainly to book budget airline tickets or to get entertainment news.

He claimed that he is not worried that blogs and forums critical of the incumbent Barisan Nasional coalition would affect its chances of winning the election.

Since independence in 1957, the multi-ethnic coalition has won every election.

He stressed that young Malaysians would not turn to the Internet for political news.

He said: 'My children are young professionals and enjoy surfing the Internet. But they don't read blogs.'

Mr Zainuddin pointed out that Malaysians are a mature lot and would rather give more credibility to newspaper reports than the 'gossipy news' on the Internet.

He said that while Malaysia respects press freedom and the right of expression, these liberties are not absolute and must be exercised responsibly.

Mr Zainuddin alluded to how sensitive press reports fanned the Sino-Malay racial riots in May 1969. (Electric New Paper, Singapore)

***** The above report very clearly demonstrates how out of touch Lord Zam is with the reality in Malaysia. The fact that he believes that the Internet is used mainly to 'book budget airline tickets or to get entertainment news' shows that he is not fit to be the information minister and holding that portfolio for this long has taught him nothing.

Almost laughable is his insistence that the younger generation tend to believe newspaper reports! Whatever gave him that idea? He must think that they are kindergarten kids who need to be spoon-fed and are unable to distinguish between government-sponsored lies and the stark truth.

Despite very strong government initiatives and the use of several laws to discourage independent thought and action, educated Malaysians have consistently made up their own minds about what to believe and what to ignore or discard as government propaganda. This includes the younger generation too, who probably won't think twice to give the likes of Zam the 'up yours' when exercising their right to vote.

Even those whom Umno has sought to keep in a perpetual state of ignorance and disinformation have started to see through the veneer of lies and deceit. These are the folks whom Najib would prefer to label as 'ungrateful'.
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