Fu-yoh... Fu Ak Kiow
This is how Malaysia looks at the challenges of the globalisation era.
Yesterday, at the closing of Mass Media Conference 2006 organised by the Internal Security Ministry, themed "Media and Globalisation Era Challenges", Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow said, via The Star:
The Government will study if the Printing Presses and Publications Act should be amended to include the electronic media and the Internet media.
(He) said since the Act was formulated more than 20 years ago, there had been a lot of new developments in the media world and yet only the print media came under the supervision of the ministry.
He said the print media had made numerous references to the anomaly that existed, which allowed the electronic media to get away with things that the print media could not.
“They feel there are double standards, and that it is not a level playing field.”
A day earlier at the opening of the annual event, Fu's boss, PM cum Internal Security Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said mainstream media in the country need not compete with websites and "bloggers" on the Internet to publish speculative and sensational materials and news.
Watershedding draconians
Under the provisions of the Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA), all mainstream media are required to apply for a printing and publication license to operate, and to renew it thereafter annually. The act was implemented in 1984, the year George Orwell warned 'Big Brother is Watching You'.
With the completion of the 2004 General Election, the custodian of the PPPA has shifted from the Home Affairs Ministry to the newly created Internal Security Ministry, of which the Prime Minister doubles up as its minister.
On theother hand, when the MSC was launched in 1996, a set of cyber laws, including the Digital Signature Act 1997, were introduced to reign supreme in the IP-network sphere.
Under the provisions of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, judicially, there is no censorship of Internet. The hallmark is towards a self-regulatory regime, which was -- and still is -- the prevalent trend in the progressive world.
Malaysia may have re-invented the reverse gear.
In the final analysis, may someone advise Fu Ah Kiow that Fu Manchu (no pun intended), the 1913 fictional character that "works for the overthrow of Western civilisation or the 'White Race'", is no longer relevant in the globalised age as Internet, websites and blogs are no longer regarded as weapons of the imperial race. It's, rather, a universal medium that levels the playing field in the power paradigm. Stop it only at your peril.
P/S: This blog is apocalypsic. With a .com domain name, it may one day be forced to host the server overseas where the arm of Malaysian law is short on cyberspace. And shall we stop dreaming of making MSC a regional communications and digital content hub.
Comments
You should blame KMU. Pak Lah never cares about blog and web until kmu's boys gave him sinus headache.
Pak Lah and KJ in trouble in UMNO.
Posted by: aminyatim![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 27, 2006 09:58 AM
ROFL, I never expect MCA people want to join in the "test the water" sandiwara.
Similar to ZAM, FAK(MCA) has again read the riddles wrongly and too haste to suggest something that step right into LKY(Gerakan) ministry.
Bare in mind that many "water testing" minister are using "the GOVERNMENT will do so and so" sparingly.
Posted by: moo_t![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 27, 2006 12:16 PM
"This blog is apocalypsic. With a .com domain name, it may one day be forced to host the server overseas where the arm of Malaysian law is short on cyberspace."
Dude, have you forgotten already that as long as you're a Malaysian, you're liable for the contents, no matter where the server is ?
You used that argument before against some photo forum owner. ;-)
JEFF OOI says: It goes without saying that if the server can relocate, so can the server owner who has half given up hope (take a PR and wait for a good change and then come back), or totally given up hope. But I am holding on to the faith that Malaysia deserves better governance. Let's soldier on.
Posted by: Copernicus![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 27, 2006 03:16 PM
This trend of regression in our country is very alarming. In a world where borders are being broken down and globalisation knocks bringing competition at our doors, we need to wake up and smell the roses.
Why would the mainstream media editors/journalists want to stifle their fellow journalists in the Internet media screaming double standards? Is this not ridiculous? At least the Internet media are reporting with some integrity and not influenced (controlled) by politicians with their personal agenda. I refuse to believe these `mainstream journalists` are asking this. What is the purpose? How is the Internet media affecting them? Is it affecting their sales? I don't think the Internet penetration in our country is sufficient to replace or even dent their sales. Why the sour grapes? Are the politicians behind this?
Joe
Posted by: joe![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 27, 2006 04:48 PM
"MSC as a regional communications and digital content hub" is a piped dream & hallucination for Malaysia. The innate tendency of our politicians to seek cover under 'Acts' & other guises inorder to conceal the corrupt practices of a few powerful players is a major stumbling block in our Nation's growth. Will this ever change? Think not in the near future...
Guess we will all need to join Mahathir in his 'Roti Beggali' venture at this rate!
Posted by: bnaipal![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 27, 2006 05:03 PM
Joe, that could probably be one of the major reasons.
The blogs and online media are giving the papers a run for their money. Their circulation has dropped, which also makes them unattractive for ad placement, so their ad revenues are dropping as well. You may wanna read this.
http://rockybru.blogspot.com/2006/07/sad-times.html
If they don't arrest the decline, it will eat into the mainstream media's profits and a lot of people may lose their jobs and pro-establishment propaganda will not get through. Surely, those in the mainstream media's circle will not allow this to happen, more so when they have political connections and therefore will not hesitate to use that connection to monopolize the media.
Posted by: Copernicus![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 27, 2006 05:05 PM
moo_t,
i have always thought of MCA ministers as idiots..but when they open their mouths..it just confirms their idiocy.
What has MCA in the cabinet done for the last few years..name a single contribution.None I can think of. Cannot even ensure top scorers in exams get a place in university. Such a disgrace!!
Posted by: art chan![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 27, 2006 05:53 PM
A while back ago I had been predicting that the government will do something at the Internet in Malaysia in order to gain their advantage in their political preaching in year 2008 election. So it is starting now?
Posted by: patriotic1994![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 28, 2006 04:37 AM