Read in the Berita Harian (10 May 2005) about a Singaporean student who is studying in the United States who was asked or threatened to shut down his Blog and apologise to someone atas tuduhan fitnah regarding the sistem biasiswa dan dasar negara Singapore. Is it true? I don't know, and the only story I get is from the newspaper. Anyway, there are a few underlying issues here. Personally, I will not condone lies or baseless allegations, anywhere. It is a matter of principle. If you find anything in my Blog that require further clarification, give me a buzz ... no problemo ... no matter who you are.
Ok, consider this. People talk ... in the house, at the kedai kopi, in offices, in niche groups. They talk about silly things, sensitive things, rumours, half-truths, lies, accussations. They lead their own lives in their own mindset, rightly or wrongly. They are all EQUALLY dangerous. Who is going to check on them?? Who is going to ask them to stop talking and apologise (to don't know who ..). Who is going to punish them? Opinions will always be there no matter what anyone does. If you like it, you have a good opinion, if not, your opinion about it is not going to be good. As they say, one man's meat is another man's poison.
Take this Blog. Do people read? I don't know. Maybe they do, but no one commented. Maybe the Special Branch will be checking and reading all things on the Internet. If they do, fine. But the Blog is here to stay. Whether people Blog or attend a Ceramah in the kampung, people talk. But would it not be good and beneficial that you know one's opinion and actual feeling. Perhaps genuine feelings? Is it wrong to know?. NOW YOU KNOW. That's reality. Welcome to the real world.
But be positive about it. Shutting people up will not solve your problem or improve anything. Why is what is being said, being said. If it is wrong, make it right .. you would have corrected a wrong mindset. If it is right, be a gentlemen, don't abuse your authority or position. It will solve nothing in the long run. The Blog is (not to me and many others) new perhaps ... but as anything else, make the best of it .. it is not going away. It can be beneficial to Malaysia too. Those who use the Internet know that they can be tracked right up to the terminal. It is not an intention to hide. It is not an exercise to escape from anyone, far from it, it is an act to express one's opinion and be heard. This is the digital world we now live in.
I hope the Prime Minister is also reading this Blog too. Why not? How wonderful that would be. I can post my thoughts and he can read it in the comfort of his .. anywhere lah. Would be possible for me to go and see him to convey messages. One message, two messages? Would he have the time to see me? (Daydream ..) But with the Blog, we can achieve both. I can post as many messages and he can read anytime, anywhere (provided ada connection laa) and if he wants too. Bukan apa, kita pun satu kampung juga .. Kepala Batas. YAB kenai Bapak saya tu .. kata Hj. Idrus (people call him Pak Deghuih) DID dok di Paya Keladi, people know lah. Well, he is 83 years old now but his memory is still first class; only he is in bed most of the time ... got a mild (a few of them) stroke a few years back. That's life. Aiyaa, tak tau lah ...
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