Prominent blogger Jeff Ooi claimed that there had been a series of orchestrated attempts by the government to demonise bloggers in ways that had been used against former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Ooi was speaking at a DAP-organised forum titled 'Silencing Cyberspace - The Final Frontier' in Kuala Lumpur last night attended by about 150 people.

"There is a series (of events) which looks like very organised strategies whereby they adopted the ways they demonised Mahathir [...] and took this demonisation aspect to demonise bloggers," he said.

As an example, he cited Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor who likened anonymous bloggers to snipers.

"Bloggers are not that," stressed Ooi, whose Screenshots blog prominently displays his name and contact details

"Then there's another deputy minister who said the mainstream media are complaining that the space, latitude, window and freedom of expression is much narrower compared with those online," he noted.

Ooi was referring to Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow's comments on July 26 last year that the government would study if the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) should be amended to include electronic and Internet media.

Fu had reportedly said that the traditional media feels that there are double standards.

Judicial reforms

However, Ooi said those who want to see greater media freedom should lobby for the repeal of the PPPA.

"If you are really a media friendly fighter, you fight on your own terms. You need to tell the government to repeal the PPPA.

"We want more freedom, and yet, they want our freedom on the internet to be the same as the print media. How can that be?" he added.

Ooi and fellow blogger Ahiruddin Atan who runs Rocky's Bru, are currently embroiled in a defamation suit filed by the pro-government New Straits Times Press (NSTP).

The suits were filed by NSTP deputy chairperson Kalimullah Hassan, former editor Brendan Pereira and two others.

Another speaker at the forum, Bar Council president Yeo Yang Poh said judicial reforms should look into the issuance of an apology or correction as sufficient legal remedies for most defamation cases.

"Its not about money. Its about restoration of reputation," he said.

"Certainly, damages is the wrong way of going about, let alone mega damages. There must be much less emphasis on monetary compensation, unless of course its deliberate," he added.