The normally compliant mainstream media dropped all pretence of trying to be socially responsible newspapers in the run-up to the general election, observes Mustafa K Anuar.
The press too needs more freedom to operate. But for this to happen, more support is needed not just from press freedom activists but from a broader spectrum of society, says Ross Tapsell.
With all that is happening around us, we may well ask, what is happening to this country of ours? Could Euripedes have been right all those centuries ago, wonders Zaharom Nain.
More Malaysians and others must find their voice; Christopher Chong reminds us we need to reclaim the public square as a forum for responsible civil discussions.
Given the government’s record of restricting media freedom over the years, Mustafa K Anuar is not surprised that few Malaysians are finding any comfort in official assurances that so-called ‘guidelines’ for the Internet will not curb freedom further.
Yeoh Seng Guan reports on the widespread use of political merchandising and the internet during the ongoing Philippines election campaign and wonders if we will see the same kind of blitz during the next Malaysian general election.
The BN’s is attempting to expand its influence over the Internet – but it still resorts to the same old politics of control and oppression, observes CY.
The Malaysian government is unfortunately planning to follow in the foot-steps of China in filtering the Internet to block certain websites that it considers ‘undesirable’. This is a grave step back in this modern age when information knows no borders.
Aliran condemns the blocking of the popular Malaysia Today website by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It is an unprecedented and worrying development.
How did the BN suffer such a huge setback when it controlled the mainstream media? Clearly, it seriously underestimated the reach that the internet made possible, says Wong Kok Keong.