Blogging Responsibly
The title speaks volumes. At least I think so. But that is not what the Malaysian Government thinks...
"Irresponsible bloggers forcing us to act, says govt"
There are so many things to say in so many different ways that I don't know where to start. For starters, let's just begin with blogging. What is it exactly? It is "to write entries in, add material to, or maintain a weblog." Like any other material such as the press or media, it is subject to certain restrictions. The only stark difference is that in the cyberworld, the laws governing it is not as well established as the others. Sure, there are statutes in place...we have the Computer Crime Act 1997, Digital Signature Act 1997, Communication and Multimedia Act 1998, Digital Signature Regulations 1998 to name a few. But the problem of jurisdiction arises when blogs are hosted abroad... Admittedly, I know next to nothing when it comes to cyber crimes in Malaysia. However, this will not stop me from saying what I think is only fair.
It is true that regulation may be necessary (as much as I loathe to admit it) to preserve this superficial and delicate balance of racial harmony (how this always seem to be the default reason for any draconian/unilateral measures taken) but the question is always the degree and scope of such a regulation. Mahatma Gandhi once said that “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” It therefore begs the question, are we truly free? Any reasonable person will say that we are never truly free, or we are only free but within the ambit of the law. Technically, these are correct but for the sake of argument we should also note that the people should be free to voice their concerns (albeit responsibly). In this case, via blogs. Online. Of course, we should always venture to voice our concerns, criticisms and opinion objectively but sometimes passion may be mistaken for treachery. Each person is entitled to their own view and being the individuals that we are, it is up to us to decide for ourselves what and how our views are.
I sometimes post my opinion on certain issues when I feel the need to. However, I try to do it in a objective way but in the face of subjective interpretation, inflammatory innuendos are just waiting to occur. The question is, are we mature enough to receive any criticism, reflect on it and perhaps improve from there? This is a little off-track but the degree of transparency and accountability in our country is far from sterling. Granted we shouldn't compare with countries such as Nigeria but we should always strive to be better. Complacency is a disease in our country and we will rot to death before we know what kills us.
On this issue of irresponsible blogging, I've seen quite a number of inflammatory blogging but there are only a handful that are actually touching on national issues. And nearly all that I've read seems to be coherent and sensible. (Caveat: of course, I do not read all nor do I admit that I am authority but any blogger will be more likely than not to be in the same position) Of course, this is no excuse for ignorance of the law, but perhaps the government should objectively view the bigger picture and then investigate on a case-by-case basis instead of implementing an comprehensive and blanketting rule to regulate ALL bloggers. No express mention of ALL bloggers is made but this is the only possible inference that the government would make. Another idea is that only the Opposition blogs as well as underground dissent being monitored. This monitoring and regulating will not be difficult to do considering that many are blogging from home (if you're smart, you'll blog from a public connection) and that we have the all-encompassing monopoly of a corporation TMNet. ( I have so so many complaints...) I am very sure that the database and record are all stored somewhere but then again given the mediocrity and efficiency of our country, I wouldn't safely bet on it.
Back to the issue, I suppose that regulation is the only form of control necessary to further submit the citizens to its rule. What's more with the election just around the corner, any dissent or tarnish to the reputation of the ruling party is not to be welcomed. Malaysians are after all not mature enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. We will never truly be able to grow democratically, maturely if the executive continues to force-feed, suppress and control. Control by all means is necessary but the high-handedness (especially with the arrest of Nathaniel Tan) of our executive is more than a cause for concern. When will we ever learn? The more forbidden the fruit, the more tempting it is. The less there is room for discussion and forum, the less outlet there is for expression, resulting in more riots, opposition-sympathisers and whatnot. It is also interesting to note that the famous "bloggers" caught in this web of irresponsible blogging are some of the most responsible bloggers out there .... Jeff Ooi, Ahiruddin Atan and Nathaniel Tan comes to mind. It is the chorus of anonymous batu api-s that are the real culprit.
There have already been countries like China that regulates the Internet. It is such a wonderful tool, but like any other tool, it can be misused. So is a knife. Is this a valid reason to stop a person from using a knife? Or would teaching the people how to use a knife properly be a better way?
Considering this regulation of the blogosphere yet another knee-jerk reaction, it may be safe to assume that this issue will be forgotten and the Internet will remain what is. (Which is something I wouldn't mind anyway).
In the end, in the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, 'I know but one freedom, and that is the freedom of the mind.'
"Irresponsible bloggers forcing us to act, says govt"
There are so many things to say in so many different ways that I don't know where to start. For starters, let's just begin with blogging. What is it exactly? It is "to write entries in, add material to, or maintain a weblog." Like any other material such as the press or media, it is subject to certain restrictions. The only stark difference is that in the cyberworld, the laws governing it is not as well established as the others. Sure, there are statutes in place...we have the Computer Crime Act 1997, Digital Signature Act 1997, Communication and Multimedia Act 1998, Digital Signature Regulations 1998 to name a few. But the problem of jurisdiction arises when blogs are hosted abroad... Admittedly, I know next to nothing when it comes to cyber crimes in Malaysia. However, this will not stop me from saying what I think is only fair.
It is true that regulation may be necessary (as much as I loathe to admit it) to preserve this superficial and delicate balance of racial harmony (how this always seem to be the default reason for any draconian/unilateral measures taken) but the question is always the degree and scope of such a regulation. Mahatma Gandhi once said that “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” It therefore begs the question, are we truly free? Any reasonable person will say that we are never truly free, or we are only free but within the ambit of the law. Technically, these are correct but for the sake of argument we should also note that the people should be free to voice their concerns (albeit responsibly). In this case, via blogs. Online. Of course, we should always venture to voice our concerns, criticisms and opinion objectively but sometimes passion may be mistaken for treachery. Each person is entitled to their own view and being the individuals that we are, it is up to us to decide for ourselves what and how our views are.
I sometimes post my opinion on certain issues when I feel the need to. However, I try to do it in a objective way but in the face of subjective interpretation, inflammatory innuendos are just waiting to occur. The question is, are we mature enough to receive any criticism, reflect on it and perhaps improve from there? This is a little off-track but the degree of transparency and accountability in our country is far from sterling. Granted we shouldn't compare with countries such as Nigeria but we should always strive to be better. Complacency is a disease in our country and we will rot to death before we know what kills us.
On this issue of irresponsible blogging, I've seen quite a number of inflammatory blogging but there are only a handful that are actually touching on national issues. And nearly all that I've read seems to be coherent and sensible. (Caveat: of course, I do not read all nor do I admit that I am authority but any blogger will be more likely than not to be in the same position) Of course, this is no excuse for ignorance of the law, but perhaps the government should objectively view the bigger picture and then investigate on a case-by-case basis instead of implementing an comprehensive and blanketting rule to regulate ALL bloggers. No express mention of ALL bloggers is made but this is the only possible inference that the government would make. Another idea is that only the Opposition blogs as well as underground dissent being monitored. This monitoring and regulating will not be difficult to do considering that many are blogging from home (if you're smart, you'll blog from a public connection) and that we have the all-encompassing monopoly of a corporation TMNet. ( I have so so many complaints...) I am very sure that the database and record are all stored somewhere but then again given the mediocrity and efficiency of our country, I wouldn't safely bet on it.
Back to the issue, I suppose that regulation is the only form of control necessary to further submit the citizens to its rule. What's more with the election just around the corner, any dissent or tarnish to the reputation of the ruling party is not to be welcomed. Malaysians are after all not mature enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. We will never truly be able to grow democratically, maturely if the executive continues to force-feed, suppress and control. Control by all means is necessary but the high-handedness (especially with the arrest of Nathaniel Tan) of our executive is more than a cause for concern. When will we ever learn? The more forbidden the fruit, the more tempting it is. The less there is room for discussion and forum, the less outlet there is for expression, resulting in more riots, opposition-sympathisers and whatnot. It is also interesting to note that the famous "bloggers" caught in this web of irresponsible blogging are some of the most responsible bloggers out there .... Jeff Ooi, Ahiruddin Atan and Nathaniel Tan comes to mind. It is the chorus of anonymous batu api-s that are the real culprit.
There have already been countries like China that regulates the Internet. It is such a wonderful tool, but like any other tool, it can be misused. So is a knife. Is this a valid reason to stop a person from using a knife? Or would teaching the people how to use a knife properly be a better way?
Considering this regulation of the blogosphere yet another knee-jerk reaction, it may be safe to assume that this issue will be forgotten and the Internet will remain what is. (Which is something I wouldn't mind anyway).
In the end, in the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, 'I know but one freedom, and that is the freedom of the mind.'
