Bloggers Beware!

Since the previous posting, suddenly I came to aware that if I publish a "sensitive" posting, regardless whether it is pro-government or vice versa (the moment you start talking about politics...it's complicated), what are the chances of my views being put to legal actions against me.

A reminder for Malaysian bloggers, quoted from Jeff Ooi's Screenshot, referring to the commentors of his blog (http://www.jeffooi.com/2006/08/advisory_to_all_blog_commentat.php):

"Warning to all blog commentors

Though Screenshots has been publishing various versions of advisories to blog commenters in the past, with the current version dated February 1, 2006, the screw will surely be tightened on you guys if you didn't behave decently on the Internet.

This is the advisory from the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum Complaints Bureau pursuant to the Mediation Results set forth on August 29, 2006 with regards tot to P. Gunasegaram's complaint against a commentator's posting in the feedback section of this blog:

"Any comments posted on this blog that are obscene, blasphemous, racial or overtly threatening, including the use of partial words or phrases where the intent is clearly offensive, will be removed immediately by the host. Such comment could also render the person posting them liable to legal action or prosecution."

I have also been asked to put up a prominent warning -- hence I created a prominent red button -- to remind you and the authority that I have done my part. So, you blog commenters please take care.

BEWARE!

- Posted by Jeff Ooi on August 30, 2006 06:11 AM"

So, bloggers or commentors, including myself, beware, as materials published in the blogs may be liable to legal action or persecution in the country. ---It got me questioning the degree of freedom of speech in the country. How do we define 'comments that are obscene, blasphemous, racial or overtly threatening"?

But anyway, where's the freedom of speech that people in today's world are fighting for? What's democracy without freedom of speech? To what extend or limit does the freedom of speech in Malaysia may avoid ourselves from any legal action?

However, what's true is that bloggers are gaining its reputation as near free to bias as expression of views and opinions are based on facts around. These bloggers (e.g. Jeff Ooi, Marina Mahathir, Rocky and etc.) are establishing an arena for the Malaysians to gain a better and true understanding of the situation and the condition of what's happening in the Malaysian politics, media and perhaps, business. We perceive from what we see, don't we?

Thumbs up for these people who stand up for the freedom of speech in Malaysia.

God bless.