Beppe Grillo's Blog

The bloggers of Malaysia

Raja Petra Karamudin is a blogger from Malaysia. Last week, his blog, the first such medium expressing a political opinion in that Country, was blacked out by the government. Malaysia Today was blocked by the state-controlled telecommunications company Telekom Malaysia.
Following the last elections, the Malaysian politicians suddenly realised that the Internet has the capacity to affect the outcome of an election and even to send them packing. Raj Petra is only the beginning. The aim of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is to standardise the Internet, making it the same as all the other media.
Badawi has admitted to underestimating the effects of the Internet, which is the only real alternative to Malaysian State controlled information in that Country. In order to shut down Malaysia Today, the government has made use of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). After careful analysis, the Commission found that the comments posted were “insensitive and verging on incitement”. Essentially the comments were anti-government.
Raja Petra stated that: “The government has written to all 20 Internet service providers and I expect that we will be shut down within just a few days”.
For the time being, the Malaysia Today site can still be accessed at the following address: http://m2day.org/. Visit the site and spread its contents.
I place my Blog at Raja Petra’s disposal. If he so wishes, I am willing to post his articles both in English and in Malaysian, in a section dedicated to Malaysia.
Bloggers of the world unite!

Comments

For an update, it should be noted that the ban on Malaysia Today was immediately circumvented by having mirror sites set up. The ban was rescinded a few weeks after that.

However, Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) has since been arrested and detained without trial under the infamous ISA act.

Also, you say "his blog, the first such medium expressing a political opinion in that Country". This is incorrect, his was not the first Social-Political blog - see for example http://www.jeffooi.com, a well-known blogger who is now an MP; and for pre-blogging examples check out Sabri Zain - http://www.sabrizain.org/reformasi/diary/index.htm

There are many 'SoPo' blogs in Malaysia, and while RPK is probably the most well known, he does not necessarily represent the opinions of all bloggers, or Malaysians.

For a list of SoPo bloggers in Malaysia, check this site: http://sopo-sentral.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Julian Hopkins | October 15, 2008 03:19 AM

Hanno paura e LORO lo sanno molto bene.
Ubuntu software per sempre!!

Posted by: Antonio Coniglio | September 1, 2008 10:37 AM

It's the only way, at present, to circumvent the manipulations of cowardly and morally deficient politicians.
However, as they become more internet savvy, it will be necessary to be much more skillful at keeping ahead of their corrupt behaviours.
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
Keep up the good work, Beppe.

Posted by: Rolly Wheeler | August 31, 2008 02:19 AM

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