Mahathir on Internet in future Malaysia
UPDATED VERSION. This is an excerpt of the Q&A with Dr Mahathir at Universiti Teknologi Petronas in Tronoh yesterday, via AgendaDaily.com:
DR MAHATHIR : bila kita tanya tak boleh masuk (tulis dalam akhbar)… you pun tak boleh masuk… you suratkhabar mana…?Wartawan Agendadaily menjawab : saya dari Agendadaily, web news melalui internet
Tun Dr Mahathir menyambung : Internet…tak lama lagi internet pun nak kena juga… pasal kita open society …mesti censor semua internet… cuma 'mana perintah patik sokong' saja boleh masuk (siar)…
You can read the larger context here.
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The police today sent a 4-man team to visit Malaysiakini's office and started its probe by recording a statement from Editor-in-Chief Steven Gan over a report related to th epepper spray attack on Dr Mahathir, which the force claimed to be defamatory.
According to Malaysiakini, Inspector Lonie B Butek from the Kota Bahru police headquarters said that the case was being investigated under the Penal Code for criminal defamation, which carries a two-year jail term, or fine, or both, upon conviction.
“They repeatedly asked me whether malaysiakini had malicious intention to defame the police. I told them it was really an honest mistake,” said Gan.
Two other editors and a journalist will have their statement recorded at the Commercial Crimes Unit headquarters in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.
Comments
Bearing in mind we need to get the EVIDENCE before making any allegations, i have just One comment relating to sums of monies involved in bank facilities of relevance. Just point out that the present numbers are in millions eg Khairy Jamaluddin's about RM10million borrowings to buy ECM-Libra shares; compare that with BILLIONS under the olde regime, as in Peronas' RM1.8billion bailout of one UMNO VVIP's son rolling on the high seas..., and another MCA VIP's son involved in purported RM1.2billion stockmarket spree to enjoy Eat, Drink and Be Merry lifestye...).
Now I adjourn to tehtarik and chapFun costing just RM7, mayhaps less if the mamak stall owner thinks my Blogging activity is "patriotic", not running down NegaraKu.
Posted by: desiderata
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August 8, 2006 01:50 PM
Yes...I think the days of free blogging are limited unless we show our supports for the blog communities. We should leave comments...whether in support or in disagreement. When the public is behind the project, the government will take consideration before action. For example, we would like to hear Mr.Guna comments on this blog...because blogging has become an extension of journalism.
Posted by: vital9
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August 8, 2006 04:13 PM
vital9, i find that a lot of people do read the blogs, but most of them only comment/speak up if/when something happens? Look at Aisehman's resounding support after he pondered upon his blogging yrs. I think that's a positive thing.
Posted by: suanie
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August 9, 2006 02:34 AM
Mahathir has definitely learnt the painful lesson of keeping the medias in a tight reign to the extent that his voices aren't heard. Luckily for him, he didn't go all out to censor the net. If he had done so, he wouldn't have any avenue to speak out.
The present crop of leaders should learn from this. One day they could be out of office and need an avenue to speak out. If they kill the internet, just imagine how they will let their voices be heard.
Isn't this interesting? Mahathir SHOT himself in the foot. Will Badawi SHOOT himself in the foot too?
Posted by: Freddy
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August 9, 2006 09:04 AM
The past and present government has already said that the internet WILL NOT be censored in Malaysia. So why does Mahathir keep saying that it will be ?
What is he trying to incite by telling Agenda Malaysia that the present government will censor the internet soon? I am afraid that Dr. Mahathir has ill intentions bordering on being malicious by making such false statements. If I were the police, I would pay Mahathir a visit and possibly charge him for defamation!
But perhaps Mahathir will say "Oops, it was an honest mistake" too.
Posted by: oramgminyak
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August 9, 2006 10:27 AM
Dear Suanie,
It is true that many people read blogs...does the Government knows? During time when freedom is threatened, we must voiced out even if we get 'shot' in the head. Leaving comments are quite frightening...you worry about spelling, grammar, bad reactions and worse of all, anonymity. Bye and take care.
Posted by: vital9
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August 9, 2006 11:52 AM
Technological censorship of the internet is just another cat and mouse game with only one logical end, the isolation of the malaysian grid if they want to be successful. Other meassures would would mean partial censorship that is rife with false positive and false negative.
I would be more worry of laws like ISA or Sedition Act which will be used by government to prosecute people then any technological attempt on their part.
Dr.M warnings just meant that the fourth estate can never publish anything that doesn't sit well with the current government without repercussion. So his just repeating an old story. The same story that a lot of people constantly repeated during his reign.
Nothing new to see here. Move along.
Posted by: |^2SaNe|
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August 9, 2006 05:22 PM