By Bob Yong
12th June 2008
If you cannot beat them, you join them. The government has decided to engage the bloggers head on. The Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib said that remaining silent is no longer an option.
Bloggers are known to be assertive and believe in a “no holding back punches” in perusing and hunting down the truth. Some bloggers without fear of arrest, more often than not got into trouble by continuing criticize the government and its many corrupted officials openly. Some private sector high profiled individuals are not spared either. Dare to cross this line; the government will not hesitate to act against them. What line? One may ask. There is a demarcation line; purportedly drawn by the authorities on its own terms, which is only visible after charges are levied against the bloggers.
Bloggers welcome the news that the government has finally agreed to blog along with them. Blogging community communicates with each other through out the world to exercise the freedom of speech and expression without fear of arrest. Do not forget, bloggers provide feedbacks to the authorities on their mistakes. Up to now, bloggers feels that their invaluable services offered by them are not given due recognition and appreciation.
The government’s decision to blog along with the bloggers is a big step towards practicing democracy, which should be welcome by all Malaysians.
On the other hand, bloggers must follow ethical journalism and be responsible to their own action. There is no such thing as absolve freedom of speech, said the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Badawi recently, at the Asia Media Sumit in Kuala Lumpur. Individuals can be charged for libel and slander if they deliberately making false accusations.
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