Online control bid futile, warn analysts
The proposal to amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) to cover online news is an “exercise in futility” that will further tarnish Malaysia’s international image, say analysts.
They think the government may be biting off more than it can chew in pushing for the PPPA amendments.
The proposal to amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) to cover online news is an “exercise in futility” that will further tarnish Malaysia’s international image, say analysts.
Merdeka Centre director Ibrahim Suffian said it will be bad publicity for the government if is insists on pushing ahead with the changes, which aim to broaden the Act’s jurisdiction to include online ‘publications’.
“It doesn’t bode well for the BN government (to push the amendments), and Malaysia will only look like we don’t want to move forward...,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Ibrahim (left) said the amendments is the government’s answer to dissent, such as the widespread protests on social networking site Facebook against the 100-storey mega-tower project announced by Najib last year.
He said it is “natural” for the government to think of ways to manage areas where it has no control, especially with the recent trend of Twitter being used widely to foment uprisings in the Muslim world as had been seen in Iran last year and currently in Egypt.
Ibrahim warned however that such reaction from the government only indicates that it is “disconnected” with the people, especially youths who are arguably the biggest users of the Internet.
“What they (government) should do instead is to up their game in trying to engage the young rather than stop the discourse,” he said.
Plans to root out dissent
Political analyst James Chin noted that the government’s plan appears to be designed to “scare” Malaysians living in the country against supporting dissent.
He believes the proposed amendments are part of the government’s long-term plan to control online content.
“If they can get it through before the next general election, then it would be good for the government. But they will still push for it even if it’s after the general election.
“This is a move to control content and limit the flow of information, but this will not be possible. We know in China, they tried to control the Internet but it didn’t work.”
Chin (right), who lectures at Monash University, acknowledged that such controls could achieve limited success in clamping down on Malaysians living in the country but stressed that there is no way the government will be able to stop the flow of information.
“It’s impossible. We must remember that Malaysia has one of the highest diaspora in the world. Take for example the most popular activism website, Malaysia Today... that is based overseas.
“What will happen is that people in Malaysia writing under their own names will be more careful, and it will definitely affect news sites like Malaysiakini, but those writing anonymously will still be writing whatever they want,” he said.
A war they can never win
Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng argues that the government will ultimately fail in whatever effort it makes to exert total control on the flow of information in Malaysia.
He agreed that it could hamper the political opposition and social activism, both of which have benefitted greatly from online exposure.
“But this is a war they can never win. As a nation, we are quite globalised and that is something they (government) need to consider... it (proposed amendments) only shows that the government is not thinking of long-term consequences.”
Khoo (left) said the impact of the PPPA amendments would depend on how widely the government intends to cast its net, but emphasised that it will ultimately be a futile effort.
“If it’s just on news portals, then what about email or Twitter? People will be looking for more avenues of expression.
“It’s like dealing with a mouse - you can plug one hole, but it will just look for another hole to get out of... there will not be an end to it,” he said.
