In another radio show by ABC Radio National hosted by Antony Funnell, journalist and author Antony Loewenstein’s The Blogging Revolution was the subject of discussion. The book covers the blogging phenomenon in relation to freedom of speech and accessibility of the Internet in six countries –Iran, Cuba, China, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Egypt- where Loewenstein executed his field research. Loewenstein said that although certain states do suppress the accessibility of the Internet for the people; that do not mean the government does not allow the people to voice out their dissatisfaction through protests and blogging. He also said that the mentality that the Internet is able to Westernize mindsets, example being given in Iran.
Unlike China, Malaysia faces many problems with freedom of speech. Although there are no draconian laws to dictate online activities (Hachigian 2002), the situation of online press freedom is no vast difference from Malaysia’s press freedom in general. A famous and recent case in Malaysia involves political blogger and alternative news site Malaysia Today editor, Raja Petra Kamarudin being detained by the Internal Security Act because his writing allegedly raises racial tension and poses potential threat to national security (The Malaysian Insider, 23 September 2008). It is reported that he published articles which were critical and insulting to the Muslims, mocking the purity of Islam and the personality of Prophet Muhammad (Mageswari, The Star Online, 7 November 2008). Freedom of speech in many countries is quite an oxymoron. According to VanFossen (2007), freedom of speech does not mean you can say anything or everything you want. There is a consequence to bear if somebody or the law does not like what you say. In other words, there is freedom of speech, but no freedom after.
Unlike China, Malaysia faces many problems with freedom of speech. Although there are no draconian laws to dictate online activities (Hachigian 2002), the situation of online press freedom is no vast difference from Malaysia’s press freedom in general. A famous and recent case in Malaysia involves political blogger and alternative news site Malaysia Today editor, Raja Petra Kamarudin being detained by the Internal Security Act because his writing allegedly raises racial tension and poses potential threat to national security (The Malaysian Insider, 23 September 2008). It is reported that he published articles which were critical and insulting to the Muslims, mocking the purity of Islam and the personality of Prophet Muhammad (Mageswari, The Star Online, 7 November 2008). Freedom of speech in many countries is quite an oxymoron. According to VanFossen (2007), freedom of speech does not mean you can say anything or everything you want. There is a consequence to bear if somebody or the law does not like what you say. In other words, there is freedom of speech, but no freedom after.
Controversial blogger, writer and editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin and his wife.
References
1. Funnell, A 2008, The Blogging Revolution, The Media Report, ABC Radio National, viewed 13 November 2008, http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2351985.htm.
2. Hachigian, N 2002, ‘The Internet and Power in One-Party East Asian States’, The Washington Quarterly, vol. 25, no. 3, viewed 23 October 2008, http://www.rand.org/international_programs/capp/pubs/washquarterly.pdf.
3. Mageswari, M 2008, Court Frees Raja Petra (Update 5), 7 November 2008, The Star Online, viewed 10 November 2008, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/7/nation/20081107094618&sec=nation.
4. Raja Petra Detained for 2 Years, 23 September 2008, The Malaysian Insider, viewed 12 November 2008, http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/9444-raja-petra-detained-for-2-years.
5. VanFossen, L 2007, Blogging Freedom of Speech: Can You Really Say Whatever You Want?, The Blog Herald, viewed 13 November 2008, http://www.blogherald.com/2007/03/27/blogging-freedom-of-speech-can-you-really-say-whatever-you-want/.
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