Online Journalism Should Be Controlled

Online journalism is defined as the reporting facts, information or news but it is produced and distributed by the Internet.  For sure, if we are talk about the usage of internet, it will link us to the media freedom. 

 

There is a law in Malaysia that protects media freedom, Article 10 of the Constitution.   The act also stated that there are limits to this freedom, and that these limits are, generally, defined by the Government.

If you want to really impress the crowd, you could also point to the guarantees under the Communications and Multimedia Act.  This covers broadcasting and the Internet. What are the guarantees under this act? (1) No monopoly or oligopoly control of the airwaves and (2) Nothing in the Act is to be regarded as censorship of the Internet (Media Freedom in Malaysia, 2004).

The problem that our country has faced now is the second one, which is “nothing in the Act is to be regarded as censorship of the Internet”.  Why become a problem to our country?  A free media that acts as a check and balance on both individuals and institutions government, the legislature, the judiciary, business, the civil service, the police force, NGOs and so on lays a crucial role in building a just and democratic society (The Edge, 2008).

By calling for transparency and accountability, the press reinforces good governance and helps to ensure that there is no place for corruption and abuse.  But again, thus these particular things happen?  If yes, why lots of defamation cases that involving the internet users (internet journalist) happen and ethnocentrism among races in Malaysia are increasing?

That is why in my opinion the online journalism should be control because most of the readers will believe, anything that has been wrote in the web or blogs are true and accurate.  This is due to the nature of the internet itself.  Internet is known as the fastest and updated medium of information.  So because of this matter, the percentage of miscommunication increasing and defamation occurs.

Besides that the online journalism also will give impact on our national harmony.  As we know, the online journalism is the medium where journalists are freely to write whatever they want.  Thus, for those unethical journalists they definitely will write something that can create barrier (ethnocentrism) among races in Malaysia.

Online journalism also should be controlled in order to maintain and to boost our economy level.  This is because if those online journalists write all the problems that being faces by our government or country, for sure the investors who had invested in Malaysia will pull out their share.

So we must realise that just because there isn't any censorship or control of the Internet under this Act, doesn't mean there isn't any censorship of the Internet. Other bits of legislation can be used like, Printing Presses and Publications Act, Communications and Multimedia Act, Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act, Internal Security Act and myriad other which I believe it’s really need to be tighten further in order to protect the peace that we are enjoying in Malaysia right now.

Kesan Kebiadaban di Dunia Siber

Acap kali kita akan terbaca beberapa artikel di laman web yang akan menggunakan perkataan-perkataan yang kasar dan kesat.  Mengapa perkara seperti ini terjadi?  Adakah kerana kita bebas menyuarakan sesuatu perkara sehingga makian dan juga cacian menjadi sulaman dalam setiap percakapan khususnya penulisan? Adakah ini yang dinamakan demokrasi?

Tuanku Mizan pernah bertitah, kebiadaban dan bahasa kesat pengguna Internet perlu di pandang serius begitu juga degan kebebasan siber yang boleh saja digunakan sebagai saluran untuk menabur fitnah, hasutan, dan perjudis yang tebal dengan unsur-unsur perkauman.   Maka rakyat perlu sedar tentang perkara ini kerana perisai perpaduan akan menjadi mudah dirodok sekiranya perkara ini dianggap ringan oleh semua pihak.

Perkara ini tidak hanya membahayakan perpaduan yang sedia terbina di Malaysia, bahkan ia juga boleh menyebabkan ekonomi negara menjadi tidak stabil dan jatuh.  Hanya kerana nila setitik , rosak susu sebelanga dan hanya kerana biadap maka punahlah pembangunan negara. 

Seperti pandangan Dr. Rahmat Ghazali yang ditulis di dalam artikelnya,( utusan) beliau menyatakan bahawa bagi segala maki hamun tidak akan memberikan apa-apa kebaikan kepada Malaysia khususnya dalam usaha menzahirkan gagasan 1 Malaysia.

Apa yang penting bagi mengawal perkara ini dari menjadi-jadi? Ya, etika inilah yang boleh menjadi penyelamat bagi masalah ini.  Kita telah dididik oleh kedua ibubapa kita dan juga guru-guru kita tentang etika ataupun adap ketika bercakap mahupun menulis sejak dari kecil lagi.  Jadi mengapa kita harus lupakan segala etika tersebut?  Mungkinkah disebabkan emosi dan juga perasaan amarah yang membuak-buak membuatkan kita alpa segala didikan itu.  Jadi kita perlulah bertenang dan berfikir sebelum mengutarakan sesuatu perkara .

Akhir kata, pengguna internet atau siber  itu haruslah menjaga etika dengan menggunakan perkataan-perkataan yang sopan selaras dengan saranan kerajaan untuk menjadikan masyarakat yang bertamadun, berilmu dan intelektual pada masa akan datang. Jangan jadikan alasan kebebasan bersuara sebagai alat untuk memanipulasikan keadaan.  Ayuh, mari kita sama-sama fikirkan

Freedom of press and information cyberspace: A Paradox

“Malaysia was ranked 143 out of 196 countries surveyed worldwide in the latest media freedom study, which shows it is not free (themalaysianinsider)”.  How do we feel about this ranked? Is it really true that Malaysia is does not have the freedom of press?


As what have been wrote by Dr. Rahmat Ghazali in Muslim Melinia, titled “Kebebasan berita dan informasi siber: suatu paradoks” he clearly mentions that “nothing in this act shall be construed as permitting the censorship of the internet “(AKM 1998:3.3) so this statement answer the question above.  Maybe Malaysia still been label as a nation with no press freedom due to the internet and also press still being bond with certain act for example like Defamation Act 1957 and many others acts.


I really agreed with Dr. Rahmat point of views.  He used the word paradox to describe the freedom of press and information cyberspace especially in Malaysia; I think it is really suitable.  Suppose the internet should give more positive impact rather than negative.  For example, because of the “freedom” that been given to the internet users, more than 70% of men from 18 to 34 visited a pornographic site in a typical month (comScore Media Metrix).  Is this the kind of freedom that we searching for?

Internet is also one of the channel were people tend to insult each other.  Not only that, internet is also been use for spread defamation (libel) that can harm a reputation; decrease respect, regard, or confidence; or induce disparaging, hostile, or disagreeable opinions or feelings against an individual or entity. 

For example, YB Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim  had sued Amizudin who is a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) youth committee member over the allegation posted last Dec 28 and he won the cased (The Sun Daily).  If the freedom that been given are been use for this unethical activities, do you think our country can live in harmony? I don’t think so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Hh3qzNLJE

In my opinion, our government should not give too much of freedom in this particular matter in order to curb the unethical activities that will be happen in the future for the sake of our nation.