Internet : Malaysia's only hope

Regimes have various ways to remain in power. But no other means can rival the importance of information control. Without information, governments are less accountable, and with less accountability, there is less dissatisfaction. Myanmar and North Korea their populace are subjugated at gunpoint. Here in Malaysia, the key modus operandi is information.

Mental control demands more creativity than physical subjugation. Instead of forcing populations to support the government, populations are made to want to support the government. In the advertising industry, it is called 'manufacturing demand.' Consumers are made to demand a product they do not need. TV and dailies of the mainstream media sets and directs the population towards the governments' agenda. Official Secrets Act ensures shabby deals are kept from the voters. Printing Presses and Multimedia Act 1984 ensures no other voices and views are heard. Internal Security Act ensures limitations of physical exchanges and discussions. Effectively, people are not making an informed choice.

The Berlin Wall fell after computers and modern communications bridged the gap between both sides of the Iron Curtain. Now, with the advent of the internet, barriers to information are destroyed overnight and is bound to instigate a greater change. People are able to exchange ideas and comments without meeting physically. One way flow of information are becoming a thing of the past. Bulletin Utama reports can be retorted and rebutted by an average citizen on a click of the button for all to read or listen to -all for next to nothing. Malpractices and abuses are made known worldwide almost instantly. Mentalities, and subsequently expectations, change with increased exposure.

Adapt or lose - a tagline of evolution. UMNO so far has been losing the internet battle but have instead intensified their media offensive. Legal actions have backfired an have instead further popularize their opponents. Their main supporter's website KPMU, seems more of a ranting club and blind cheer leading than having semblance to articulative debate. On the other side, Malaysia-Today.net claims to have a wider readership base than New Straits Times. A Kadir Jasin blog recently hit its millionth visitor. Jeff Ooi is a household name for his outspoken views on current issues. The results are impressive - people are as critical as ever. Every other person you meet are well informed of the latest controversies and issues. With the number of people on the reform agenda increasing every single day, it is only a matter of time before change sets in.

However there are two issues for us to consider in uncovering the full impact of reform internet. According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, as of 2007, 48.7% of the population has access to the internet. Even less are with decent broadband access and computer facilities. Most blogs (including this one) are written in English, a language still foreign to many Malaysians. We need more well written argumentative blogs in Malay where the majority of the population (and voters) can connect and interact with. Jeff Ooi and Lim Kit Siang should perhaps employ a translator for postings in a parallel Malay blog (I am sure many students are willing to do the job).

We hope our lives can be transformed beyond ordering merchandises on ebay and downloading entertainment. We will try hard and we will continue to hope.