Information Ministry to use blogs to disseminate information

Posted on May 7, 2008
Filed Under Blogging News, Politics |

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Bernama) — The Information Ministry is planning to use blogs as a medium to disseminate information to the people, its Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said.

“The ministry is planning on using blogs as a bridge to provide information and solicit views on issues raised,” he said in reply to a question by Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn (BN-Alor Gajah) during the Dewan Rakyat session, here today.

Ahmad Shabery said he already had discussions with several bloggers to get their views.

“I believe they have considered what should or should not be put out. Those who break the law like like indulging in sedition or libel, I believe the laws must be used against them,” he said.

Answering a question by Hamim Samuri (BN-Ledang) on the response to the programme ‘Blog’ over RTM1 aired for twenty minutes on Sunday, Ahmad Shabery said the programme had 200,000 viewers up till now.

“I understand from Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) that bloggers who are invited are those who are very critical of the government and this is part of the open attitude of the government today.

“There are many blogs in Malaysia and increasing every day. There are 14 million Internet users, 500,000 bloggers and more than 700 socio-political bloggers although there are also blogs on art, music and it is up to RTM’s wisdom as to who qualifies to be invited for the programme.,” he said.

I guess for the government, several radio stations and a TV station with two channels that do nothing but disseminate “information”, are not enough anymore. The government just has to climb on the blogging bandwagon!

The Information Ministry’s idea of an open attitude is to have a programme called ‘Blog’ once a week and have bloggers critical of the government as guests! *uncontrollable wild laughter*

Please excuse my wild laughter! Raja Petra, a well-known and outspoken blogger, is languishing in Sg Buloh prison right now, and by all accounts on a hunger strike to protest the sedition charge. Yeah, the government is open, so open, that it has to charge Raja Petra for sedition! :evil:

Those of you who plan on visiting the government-run blogs better watch out. The government can easily trace you if you leave critical comments on their blogs! Better watch out in case you end up being the target of sedition charges from the government!

Just read what Ahmad Shabery had to say. “Those who break the law like indulging in sedition or libel, I believe the laws must be used against them.” What a convenient way to shut down opposing views, criticisms, and plain o’le free speech!

Before we know it, the government will start banning free blog hostings, YouTube and whatever means the people can use to voice their opposition of the government to stop the growing influence of the internet. For now the government, instead of fighting the information war from bloggers, has decided to join the fray by creating their own blogs to disseminate disinformation, er, I mean information.

But who knows what the government will do if it is truly backed into a corner, and its survival is seriously challenged? More arrests of bloggers?

I, for one won’t be surprised, if the events of the last two days are any indication.

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