Screenshots

The only way to overcome racial issues is to confront it, not bury it with censorship.

Can't we just get representative's from each race to sit down and have a meaningful discussion and come up with a practical conclusion? Those representatives must not be extremists and must also hold a (valid) PhD and experience in the relevant field. He/she must have the full support (or at least 70%) from the race he/she is representing. Also, there should be no political involvment in this discussion. Is that so hard to do?

Everyone knows the solution but the ones who want to remain in power will never let the racial problem be solved as they won't be able to use it to gain votes in coming elections.

what can we do to prevent this from taking shape? demo? any ideas? i am afraid we r moving backwards if this is implemented and the corrupt ppl will get away for their sins cos this is the only way the ppl can know the truth.

A person who does not even know how to use email but telling us HOW to control the Internet is real mockery to us.

Zam...zam..ala...kazam....

why dont u start with censoring Nazri's mouth, Hishamuddin's keris yielding act, KJ the riot man, your own stupidity and more....

How about that Zam?

How to control the Internet?

It's not that difficult to control bloggers. Just hire a number of jobless graduates to log on to targeted sites, like Screenshots, and read the stuff that is being posted and the comments as well. When they read something their controllers say are taboo, such as "Zam has no brains" or "KJ is a racist", they will notify yet another jobless graduate higher up in the food chain who will be trained to do what he's been trained to do and so forth until it reaches the person who will call Jeff to invite him for tea at Dang Wangi or Putra Jaya. Just more frustration for Jeff, especially having to deal with people at a lower intellectual level, but the show must go on.

Jeff,

You are not worried with the recent statement by PM?

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/8/2/nation/15022918&sec=nation

JEFF OOI says: Yes, I feel darned intimidated by the PM's statement you pointed out. I am also darned worried about the future of this country. hence I blog to share my views with those who care to listen.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/8/2/nation/15022918&sec=nation&focus=1

THE STAR, 2nd August 2006
PM: Those who spread untruths on the Net will be detained

The media has never been freer post 22 years of iron-clad ruling of Mahathir?

Disappointing indeed.

If General Election is round the corner, whoever wins, it is still the same old, same old.

How to determine truths / untruths or validity of news in the grapevine?

Whistleblowers are not encouraged. These are the ones prosecuted.

Only the urbanites population with Internet access has access to alternative news, views. The majority still needs to rely on NST news, etc.

Come election time, we will have forgotten again.

There are too many people who have forgotten who voted for them. A lot of racial issues stirred up are from the parliament. Censor it?

Thank God parliament is not brought live on telecast.

More Monkey See, Monkey Do!

Racial harmony and national unity,both of paramount importance to our multiracial multireligious nation, are easy to achieve.for that, can our politicians,especially UMNO politicians, see and look beyond race and religion in formulating and implementing economic development? We did have the right policy on paper, the NEP,i.e.eradication of poverty irrespective of race and religion but it was systematically, methodically and intentionally and with full knowledge, sabotaged to the benefit of one race, corruption, cronyism,misuse and abuse of resources for megaprojects and white elephants. Are our politicians day dreaming for national unity and expect it to fall from the sky Do they expect unity by visiting each other during their respective festivals which is nothing but hypocracy .If the bunch of politicians of 25 years, if they are not pliticians, who will employ them.
Social justice,have our politicians heard the phrase, is the key to racial,religious and communal harmony and national unity will simply follow, the end product. Add to that respect to fundamental rights guaranteed by the Federal constitution. Keep the racial and religious fanatics from all religions and races locked up by using all the repressive laws whcih we have in plenty.SOCIAL JUSTICE,gentlemen, is the key.
ksn

I guess this is what the PM meant when he said "Work with me and not work for me", the slogan that won him the last GE when he first became the PM.

And now, what will happen if the "rumours" originated from overseas? Do they have the power to prosecute? And by the way, is there any miscommunication or communication breakdown between the different ministries? One say "yes" whilst the other say "nay"..

Till then...G'nite M'sia, wherever u are...

ZAM, Ali Rustam, Khairy J and a whole bunch of these UMNO/MCA?MIC plus other minior BN components can say anything seditious under the sun and get away with it -- even wielding the "keris" (and shouting slogans like once at a padang calling for the shedding of blood. But when coommoners and NGO activists demo on public intertests issues like human rights and fuel hikes, the mainstream media "blanked" out such protests but the Blogs filled the gaps -- and then they shout, like ZAM the last few occasions, raising sensitive and unneccesary ...

Yes, like what the sunsays today:

"And while we are at it, we should also control if not outright ban all politicians from giving speeches since more often than not they are the ones who stir up racial and religious emotions, as we often see happen even in parliamenl." Salute to theSUN!

Dear Mr PM,

With all due respect, I would suggest that you study American History to see how a "Freedom of Information" culture backed up by a Freedom of Information Act/Law has allowed the US peoples to develop their minds intellectually and creatively over the last half century or more. One of the major benefits of this was the removal of racial discrimination since discrimination againts the blacks were outlawed - a major issue we have here in M'sia.

There are also "mad" people there mouthing off their nonsense but the principle of "while I might not agree with what you say, I will do damn all to protect your right to say your piece" is sacrosanct. If an individual or organization is hurt in the process, their off course have the right to sue for libel or have other legal recourse (which incidentally is a problem in M'sia with our disfunctional judicial system).

Yes - some nuisance arises of allowing anyone in M'sia to "mouth off" (just as we now see from our dumb MP's), but if you allow yourself to see the "bigger" picture/function - the whole M'sian population would have been transformed into Members of Parliaments in the enlarged (and more representative)"Malaysian Parliament".

And furthermore, as others have pointed out, it controls the abuses by politicians and the country's leaders - abuses that have been highlighted recently - Proton, IPP's, MAS, untransparent / misallocation of Petronas moneys, crony capitalism etc.

So Mr PM, please do not make the one good "protection" we rakyat have against such abuses - the free access to the Internet and our RIGHT to "mouth off" - somthing for us to fight to retain (not that you can control this great American invention and donation to the free world).

Note well that as a former Citibank CEO (George Moore) said to a S. American dictator in the pre 1970's when Citibank was just expanding internationally ..."capital will only Go to where it is welcome AND Stay where it is well treated".

Treating capital well means allowing investors (both local and foreign) and the public access to all information AND "opinions" of the country and outsiders - for them to assess the risk and viability of their investments/ proposed investments.

FYI, I am now advising all potential business contacts not to invest in M'sia - not when your 9th M'sia Plan is so racially biased and definitely now when you say people cannot mouth off their "falsehoods" on the blogs - as if people cannot see through falsehoods in a free information accessability environment!

You disrespect us rakyat and by the same token cannot expect us to respect your government - especially in the light of the scandals that have now surfaced.

Your Govt needs to re-earn the rakyats respect!

PS I wouldn't be using a pseudonym if I didn't feel teh ISA on my neck - as you have now threathened to use.

Peasant,

FIA is well and good and something that every nation on earth should have. However, I trust you will agree that racial discrimaination still exists in the US. for example, the jobless stats throughout the US always show a higher proportion of blacks. And the police is more likely to question a black than a white.

I don't think a rational person would argue that punishing someone for,say, generating rumours or untruths that will sow racial disharmony is a bad thing. The crux of the problem is whether the judging will be fair. You have pointed out a very important issue; the state of our judicial system. Does Malaysia have quality judges and hence make quality decisions? I think the answer to many is obvious. This is why I hope Malaysia will bring back the jury system. It is an insult to the citizens of Malaysia that the legislature at one time believed that an average citizen is incapable of making a proper and fair decision when so many politicians exhibit such idiotic flair whenever they open their mouths.

Birdseye,

Yes - I agree with you completely that we also simultaneously and urgently need to get our judiciary into shape - both in terms of integrity / uncorruptability of judges AS WELL AS in speed of hearing and resolving disputes/cases to judgement.

FYI, my company is involved in a court action against the state govt.
Our experience is that the judicial system is still highly compromized as recent as a month ago.

The problem with the government right now is that while they are saying there are many lies said about them. Then they actively refuse to provided the essential evidence to prove the lies are lies.

How can the rakyat trust a government that is shrouded in secrecy?

Why cant they just show us the truth and tell us the truth? You wouldn't even need to bring such issues to the judiciary. The rakyat will know lies when we hear one.

The Truth is why is there a need for truth?

Beside they will tell you this: You can't handle the truth

Bloggers under threat might want to take a light break:

What doctors think of politicians