“Only that number out of the 11 million Internet users in the country are actively involved in political blogs. The political bloggers just write for each other to read; they are not a threat,” he added.
Zainuddin reminded bloggers of their responsibilities in maintaining harmony among Malaysia’s multiracial society.
“They should not try to incite the people,” he said after launching the Malaysian Press Institute’s (MPI) new logo and witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the institute and the United Kingdom’s Thomson Foundation.
The foundation works to-wards improving communication around the world.
MPI was represented by its acting chairman Datuk Chamil Wariya and Thomson Foundation by its head of regional partnerships Russel Lyne.
He said bloggers, being the so-called “citizen journalists,” must not abuse the freedom given by the Government and must be responsible in their writings and actions so as not to jeopardise unity among the people.
Zainuddin advised the public not to be influenced by the negative views of certain bloggers about the Government.
Earlier in his speech, Zainuddin said media practitioners and bloggers had their own roles in developing the nation through their writings.
“Lately, I found that most of the bloggers have the tendency to question the basis of the social contract which had been agreed upon by our forefathers,” he said.
On the publication of a book on May 13 by former Petaling Jaya MP Dr Kua Kia Soong, Zainuddin said the book would only serve to arouse anxiety among multiracial Malaysians.
“Some issues raised in the book can harm the social contract that has been well-received by the Malays, Chinese and Indians,” he added.
Blogger's Comment : Hello, Zam. Where in the world did you get that number from? Sounds like a recall of someone who once said that there were thousands of apostates in Malaysia now, but when asked for his source, meekly admitted from some 'report' on the Internet!
By the way, if the 20,000 number that you mentioned is not threatening, enough, why then the hoo-haa over wanting to register bloggers, ban bloggers, and other threats? So, they are harmless, why bother, then?
Zam, why not instead of your unreasonable confrontational stance, you get your information people off their backsides and start coming out with sensible options like coming out with blog takes that may help turn around this country into the positive? Don't you see? There are lots to be learned from the opinions voiced-out by the bloggers, too. For many of them Malaysia is their country, too. They do this because they want things to change.
