ICT Is Not The Main Cause of BN's Failure

UMNO still does not get it? Read this piece of story from Sun2Surf titled Don't blame Pak Lah alone: Muhammad .

These statements are made:
“The young voters read less from the mainstream newspapers and more from the bloggers and portals. We (BN) are not so much into this field, thinking that the newspaper is enough. That is our mistake,” Muhammad said.

“They are monopolising a field which appeals to the youngsters. We should give a chance to the prime minister to rehabilitate ourselves in the field of bloggers, portals and SMSes.

“They won because they had used the ICT more effectively than BN. That is the fact. It is not about our failure to influence people or develop the country or state governments,” he said.

If those are the views of UMNO, I am deeply concerned. The party should actually decipher why is it that the young voters read less from the mainstream newspapers but more from from the net. In fact, these so-called young voters selectively chose which blogs to approach and read.

To assume that the mainstream newspapers do not have their presence in the cyberworld is definitely wrong. There is of course The Star Online, Sun 2 Surf, NST online, Berita Harian online, Utusan online et cetera, et cetera, et cetera . There are even pro-Barisan Nasional websites online, namly MyKmu.net which hold a recent live "physical" forum, KPMU.net and several more, so on and so forth.

The Star even launched the All-Malaysian Bloggers Project (AMBP) years back. The latest activity is to provide AMBP registered bloggers with a special movie screening on the condition that "ideas for improvements, changes and features that could enhance the site" are being suggested by commenting on the Editor's blog. Malaysia Today and Malaysiakini did not even need to provide free passes as a persuasiaon effort to gather ideas.

Malaysiakini was the first on the net to run the idea of online Malaysian news. Despite the fact that Malaysia Today is now the most visited site for news, most of the top 10 news sites comprises the other mainstream newspaper-based sites.

This statement here :
“They won because they had used the ICT more effectively than BN. That is the fact. It is not about our failure to influence people or develop the country or state governments,” he said.

should be change to :
"They won not because they had used the ICT more effectively than BN. That is the fact. It is about BN's failure to influence people or develop the country or state governments,"

I cannot say it for a fact that the mainstream newspapers are pro-government. However, that is the general perception after readers flip through their pages. There are just so many issues not reported in a way that the readers feel justified. The people are dissatisfied with how national issues are being dealt with. Mismanagement, efficiency, corruption - it is sometimes too glaring for many citizens that they do not even have to read papers to feel how terrible the current situation is.

Myths to dispel from the statements I picked above :
1) Not only young voters read blogs. Older voters read blogs too.

2) Blogging cannot be logically monopolised by any party. It is a free world out there and not subjected to Printing, Presses and Publications Act annual license renewal. Anyone can register and say what they like anytime. It is the voice of the citizens. People write voluntarily on how they feel about certain issues.

3) Mainstream newspapers can be logically monopolised by interested parties through share acquisitions, governance and business ownerships.

4) Malaysians are not stupid. They are not easily influenced. They are not robots and they are able to think for themselves.

The source is "dissatisfaction with mainstream papers and administration", its symptom is "opposition use ICT more effectively".

When one approach a solution to a problem, it should be through the evaluation of its source and not its symptom.

Stop denying the truth and research why people are dissatisfied instead of harping on the ICT factor as the main cause. If the country had been administered properly, the bloggers would have written good things and not the bad, dissatisfaction would have been kept at a minimum.

Kempen Gerakan Anti Salah Maklumat (GASAK)

Malaysiakini melaporkan Gerakan Anti-Salah Maklumat (GASAK) ditubuhkan . Berikut merupakan maklumat yang lebih mendalam mengenai GASAK, dipetik dari laman web Malaysiakini :

Sebuah jawatankuasa yang dikenali sebagai Gerakan Anti-Salah Maklumat (GASAK) ditubuhkan hari ini untuk memberi penerangan ke seluruh negara bagi menyedarkan masyarakat agar tidak terus dipermainkan oleh media yang hanya inign memastikan satu-satu parti politik sahaja yang berkuasa. Setiausaha Sekretariat Penaja GASAK, Hasmi Hashim berkata, perkara itu bertentangan dengan semangat demokrasi. Pada dasarnya, tegas beliau, jawatankuasa penaja Gasak menggariskan tiga tuntutan minima yang melibatkan badan media di negara ini, iaitu:

-> Hentikan salah lapor.
-> Laporan seimbang kepada semua pihak.
-> Kebebasan editorial.
__________________________

Untuk keterangan yang lebih lanjut mengenai pertubuhan ini, sila lawati HarakahDaily.net . "Boikot Media Pembohong" adalah program pertama yang dilancarkan oleh GASAK.

Penubuhan organisasi sebegini memanglah dialu-alukan. Alangkah baiknya kalau idea ini dimakbulkan lebih awal. Namun, bak kata pepatah Bahasa Inggeris, "lewat lebih baik dari tidak ada" ("Better late than never"). Rasanya masa sudah sampai untuk media kita disedarkan dari tidur yang ramai rakyat Malaysia tidak berpuasa hati sekiranya laporan yang disiarkan berat sebelah, tidak menunjukkan cerita yang sepenuhnya ataupun diputarkan sehingga tidak masuk akal di atas sebab-sebab tertentu.

Sekiranya media utama berfungsi seperti apa yang penulis baru sahaja ketengahkan, maka boleh dikatakan media utama itu tidak professional dan tidak beretika. Di zaman Teknologi Maklumat ini, media adalah sesuatu unsur yang penting untuk pembangunan pemikiran rakyat.

Mengapakah orang Malaysia mencari maklumat di internet?
Tidak dapat dinafikan sesetengah orang Malaysia mencari maklumat dan gambar mengenai peristiwa terkini seperti kempen BERSIH dan Hindraf di media bebas internet seperti Malaysiakini dan Malaysia Today serta halaman blog. Persoalannya mengapa perkara sedemikian berlaku?

Sebagai contoh, peristiwa kempen BERSIH yang telah berlalu, terdapat begitu ramai yang memakai pakaian berwarna kuning berjalan kaki di dalam hujan menuju ke istana, kebanyakan media utama hanya mampu melaporkan bahawa kempen tersebut mengakibatkan kesesakan lalu lintas. Gambar yang ditonjolkan oleh sesetengah media utama merupakan gambar kereta yang sesak tetapi tiada satu pun yang menunjukkan manusia yang berhimpun walaupun kempen ini merupakan perhimpunan aman Malaysia yang paling besar dalam dekad ini. Angka hadirin yang dilaporkan pula tidak tepat.

Adakah kempen ini akan berkesan?
Menurut salah seorang Ahli Jawatankuasa GASAK (dipetik dari Suara Keadilan), kempen Boikot Media Utama adalah satu persambungan kempen tahun 1998, sewaktu kontroversi gerakan Reformasi. Namun, yang menjadi persoalannya, adakah kempen ini akan berjaya pada tahun 2007?

Penulis blogger ini tidak tahu sama ada kempen tahun 1998 boleh dianggap berjaya. Namun yang pasti, konsep blog tidak wujud sehinggalah tahun 2000. Kempen kesedaran pada tahun 2007 mesti menarik kerana yang berkempen bukanlah hanya Badan Bukan Kerajaan tetapi meliputi blogger-blogger yang merupakan rakyat Malaysia. Yang menjadi masalahnya, dapatkah mesej kempen ini dapat menembusi pemikiran rakyat yang tidak membaca artikel di internet?

Memandangkan masih tiada idea yang boleh mendatangkan hasil dengan lebih cepat untuk menyedarkan rakyat mengenai media utama, kempen ini haruslah disokong. Penulis blogger ini berharap GASAK telah merancang dengan rapi dengan meliputi setiap aspek dan pelosok masyarakat sebelum kegiatan dijalankan.

Restrict Truth = No Truth, Restrict Freedom = No Freedom

Fresh from Tengku Adnan's statements on the Judiciary Issue, Malaysiakini reported that our Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin came out with something new about the "State of Truth". I had previously chronicled Tengku Adnan's infamous statements in an: "Not Asking Them to Write Truthfully", He Said.

Without further ado, let's proceed to the issue at hand. Malaysiakini reported Zam to media: No need to tell PM the truth . Shocking doesn't it?

Malaysia Today as well as Lim Kit Siang's blog had made some extracts on the shocking statement. Excerpts with comments from me as below :
___________________________________

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin has told editors not to play up negative news because Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s pledge to “hear the truth” does not apply to the media.

[ Sagaladoola: Why, oh, why Zainuddin? I thought the ethics of media and journalism is to investigate and tell the truth ? If lies were said, it would be considered unethical and propaganda-ish. That would be so negative .

It is Pak Lah's personal problem on whether he wants to listen or accept the truth.

From my understanding, the media is for the citizens. Malaysia is already 50 years old, and citizens like me would like to have an INDEPENDENT media telling us the truth and nothing but the truth no matter how hurtful that can be......

..... and I thought, citizens deserve to know the truth ]

Zainuddin said this during a one-hour meeting on Wednesday at the RTM headquarters in Kuala Lumpur with the country’s top editors.

The country’s information czar is one of two top government officials to hold meetings with the media top brass this week.

Yesterday, chief secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan in another meeting urged media organisations to avoid emphasising on news deemed negative against the government, such as the 2006 Auditor-General’s report.

[ Sagaladoola: One can only solve problems (especially those plaguing the nation) when one acknowledges the truth and weaknesses. Besides, I recalled back then in 2004, Pak Lah received a landslide victory in elections because he promised "Transparency" and "Accountability". Wondering what happened to the "Transparency" part ? ]

According to sources, Zainuddin began the meeting by declaring that he would frequently meet editors to advise them about national issues.

[ Sagaladoola: Now you see it how it is done. *blink blink, wink wink* ]

However, he stressed that he would only “advise and not give warnings”.

[ Wikipedia: Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 is a piece of legislation that requires all print media in Malaysia to obtain a licence and abide by its strict regulations. The license or permit must be renew annually in order to publish in Malaysia. ]

[ Sagaladoola: Ooooo.. so that is a choice, not a warning or threat? Hmmn, ok . I am sure that the editors will listen to the so-called "advise" from Zainuddin Maidin. If there is something about making editors listening to so-called "advice", be rest assured that the Information Minister have been doing a "great job" these few years.

I mean look at how the protests, bloggers and Batu Burok were being reported. I don't know what to say.]

The information minister claimed that he assumed the new role under the instructions of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

[ Sagaladoola: Now we know who the chief director is ]

Zainuddin then explained that Abdullah’s often repeated pledges of “listening to the truth” were only restricted to government officials and Barisan Nasional leaders so as to assist the cabinet in making decisions.

[ Sagaladoola: The citizens are supposed to be staying in a democratic nation, where they play a part in deciding for the nation. They have MPs to voice their decision. What is wrong for the citizens to "listen to the truth" ? ]

Based on the account by a well-placed source, Zainuddin said Abdullah’s pledge did not mean that the media have the green light to practice unrestrained reporting because certain topics were considered highly sensitive.

Zainuddin added that the cabinet often scrutinises media reports and have noticed that at times, Abdullah’s statements have been misconstrued. However, the minister did not elaborate on this.

[ Sagaladoola: So, again, it's either the mistake of the press or citizens for miscontruing? Zainuddin needs to relate. If you are talking about justice, one is innocent until proven guilty. Not the other way round. Where is the proof, Zam? ]

The information minister also ticked off two television stations, warning them to stay away from reporting with a racial slant as this could trigger another "May 13" riots.

[ Sagaladoola: Why blame the media for this? Hishamuddin is not from the media, right? So is, Badruddin Amiruldin]
___________________________________

I have a few questions, I would like to ask Zainuddin Maidin concerning his "advice":

1) If the media is not writing "truth" in the papers, what kind of articles would be published?

2) What is the opposite of truth?

3) Who does the media belong to? The citizens or the ruling party?

I end my article with a famous quote:

TRUTH ....... "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."
— quote from Philip K. Dick , a famous deceased author.

MCA Bangsar Open Letter to UMNO Youth

Sagaladoola's note: This blog is not a Pro-MCA (pro-government) or Pro-Keadilan site (as evident in the case of Nathaniel Tan). Sagaladoola supports free discussion and all Malaysians (regardless of race and parties) to speak up. I received the e-mail on 22nd July 2007 5:45 pm and decided to publish it.

Associated news related to the e-mail:
1) Hisham's warning: Hey MCA! Shut up! Jul 21, 07 5:45pm ( Malaysiakini )
Umno Youth has asked its Barisan Nasional partner MCA to cease its public campaign to declare Malaysia as a secular state.
-> Hisham: Saya beri amaran (Hisham: I am warning)
-> MCA ministers gagged?

2) Hisham: Stop making statements on secular state
3) MCA, jangan komen isu negara sekular



The e-mail:

"A.L. HO" to me received (22nd July 2007 5:45 pm)

Hi,

For your blog and help to please forward below to as many people as possible.

What MCA doing is right, our conscience and action must support MCA to do what is right for the country.

Thanks

Best,
Aoi Ling, Ho
CEO

http://mylivingwall.com/
____________________________________

To: 'editor@malaysiakini.com'
Subject: Surat terbuka kepada Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO

22 Julai 2007

Kami, ahli-ahli muda MCA, menyokong penuh pendirian dan usaha murni MCA menyumbang kepada pembangunan negara dan rakyat Malaysia.

Kami membidas tindakan Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO yang memberi “Amaran kepada MCA” melalui akhbar Berita Harian (tajuk utama, Sabtu 21 Julai 2007) yang meneruskan politik polemik mengintepretasikan semula perlembagaan persekutuan Malaysia. Ini berlaku walaupun pada hari Khamis 19 Julai, 2007, Kementerian Dalam Negeri telah mengarahkan media arus perdana supaya jangan menyiarkan sebarang berita mengenai Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara Islam. Perbuatan Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO langsung tidak menghormati larangan yang telah dikeluarkan oleh KDN yang mewakili kerajaan negara.

Kenyataan Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO terhadap pemimpin MCA yang merupakan rakan kongsi utama BN, tidak membawa manfaat kepada sesiapa kerana ia tidak membawa kebaikan kepada mana-mana pihak.

Kami memberi nasihat ikhlas kepada Ketua Pemuda UMNO supaya mengingati semangat BN yang telah menjadi teras kerjasama dan muafakat selama 49 tahun Malaysia merdeka. Perbuatan mengeluarkan amaran terhadap sesebuah rakankongsi seperjuangan BN juga memperlekehkan semangat toleransi, hormat-menghormati dan bermuafakat.

Kami menyarankan pihak yang berkenaan seupaya melihat Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia secara menyeluruh, bukannya mengambil sesuatu fasal atau fakta secara terasing kerana ini tindakan pihak yang jahil mengenai latar belakang, semangat dan kesefahaman yang telah dipersetujui di antara semua rakyat Malaysia yang menjadi teras membawa kepada pembentukan negara Malaysia yang merdeka.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT BUREAU
MCA Bangsar
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Previous related articles of http://sagaladoola.blogspot.com/
1) MCA Stressed: Malaysia Is Not What Najib Claimed
2) Weeping for a Merdeka State or Islamic State?
3) Hisham, Ultraman and Scared Kitty

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