The malaysian Government, history buffs might recall, was actually responsible for shoring up the popularity of the blogs in Malaysia. They did so by emasculating the mainstream media to the point that they had no credibility left. As a result any thinking Malaysian went into the Net and the blogs for their news and views.
Now it remains to be seen whether the Government will have the tolerance, open mindedness and intellectual honesty to engage the bloggers successfully but it all seems a step in the right direction.
There is an irony here though. The man offering the olive branch is Deputy PM Najib, the man at the center of the murdered Mongolian model case.
It is for his outspoken post on this very case, and his criticisms against the government and Najib for the handling of this case, that blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was charged with sedition recently.
Can a leopard be contrite and change its spots?
|
I agree with you that it is indeed a step in a good direction. They are indeed acknowledging that technology is a very necessary tool for them, with blogs being “blamed ” as one of the reasons given by BN for the political tsunami recently.
So we shall see where does it go. So indeed, it is in the right direction. The more the merrier in blogosphere! Kudos.
Dear Unspun
Very shame that the government whom proudly declare and promoting MSC do not recognised the evolution of technology and media until recently. This show that the current leaders are lacking of knowledge and unaware what happens around them. They so busy of politikings of something that materials to them not contributing to country and people ‘s growth. Latest election result shocked them. Finally the government learned and recognised this new electronic media. Let we see it.
Let’s see what the government means by its definition of “engagement”.