Bloggers sued in Malaysia, Probably the first bloggers to be sued in the world. Options

[Centurion]

So long as the blogs are no inciting religious or racist bigotry, why should political comments on blogs be subject to draconian defamation laws? Most of these comments are directed at big multinationals or bigwigs -- why does the government want to take out even this little voice of the people on the web?

Not everybody in the kampungs read blogsites... why are the big wigs and corporations so insecure I wonder?

Two things:

1) How do you determine what is or is not inciting or inflammatory? If someone should say in a blog, "One of the reasons Abdullah Badawi is incompetent as a Prime Minister is that he has failed to stop the abuse of powers by the radical religious conservatives." - is that a statement of fact or is that disturbing the peace? Is that rational criticism or is that a personal affront? I'm quite certain that your answer will be different from that of anyone in UMNO (with the exception of TDM).

How do you criticize people in a culture where even the slightest criticism is viewed as rude or outright disloyalty to (parents, elders, nation, government, etc)?

2) I suspect that the government is interested in the success of this lawsuit to determine if such an avenue of prosecution is viable to them in the future. Badawi is unashamedly on the side of the litigants (notice how conservatives spit at the word "freedom" as if it is a foreign concept, a foreign import?)

[tangawizi]

Two things:

1) How do you determine what is or is not inciting or inflammatory? If someone should say in a blog, "One of the reasons Abdullah Badawi is incompetent as a Prime Minister is that he has failed to stop the abuse of powers by the radical religious conservatives." - is that a statement of fact or is that disturbing the peace? Is that rational criticism or is that a personal affront? I'm quite certain that your answer will be different from that of anyone in UMNO (with the exception of TDM).

How do you criticize people in a culture where even the slightest criticism is viewed as rude or outright disloyalty to (parents, elders, nation, government, etc)?

2) I suspect that the government is interested in the success of this lawsuit to determine if such an avenue of prosecution is viable to them in the future. Badawi is unashamedly on the side of the litigants (notice how conservatives spit at the word "freedom" as if it is a foreign concept, a foreign import?)

TEchnicalities of defamation laws aside, one thing about Malaysian society which is also true in SG is how the 'surat layang' is a big thing... just one little whisper of a rumour and the whole thing blows out of proportion. That's why they wanna n!p the layangs in the butt, i suppose...

[singapak2]

Actually, Singapore had 3 bloggers being sued and jailed because of racist remark against the Malays.

The 3 Chinese men(separate blogs) we charged with racism.

[salted_ham]

Verbal racism is really a crime in Singapore?

I wonder how'd Filipinos feel if same "law" will be applied, especially the militant groups.

[singapak2]

Verbal racism is really a crime in Singapore?

I wonder how'd Filipinos feel if same "law" will be applied, especially the militant groups.

Any racism is illegal in Singapore.

By action, speech or written... but there are still racism in Singapore such as Chinese employer only employ Chinese and not the Malays, Indians and Eurasians.

[salted_ham]

^Of course, despite the laws crimes still exist.

I wish there's something similar to that in the Phils. People here just don't know the limitations of freedom of speech, especially the media. You sue them, they accuse you of being "authoritarian" or depriving you of freedom of speech.

There was even an incident where 20 students threw eggs at a military officer. When people condemned them, they accused these people of depriving them of freedom of speech, of democracy. Freedom of speech, Philippine-style. I even remember one militant representative, who was banned to go to Singapore during the I'm not sure if it's IMF or WB talks, accusing Singapore of being immature.

Sorry for the rants. Things are just funny over here. =)

I hope this does not sound very OT.. Hehe

Hehe. Weird folks really.

[singapak2]

^Of course, despite the laws crimes still exist.

I wish there's something similar to that in the Phils. People here just don't know the limitations of freedom of speech, especially the media. You sue them, they accuse you of being "authoritarian" or depriving you of freedom of speech.

There was even an incident where 20 students threw eggs at a military officer. When people condemned them, they accused these people of depriving them of freedom of speech, of democracy. Freedom of speech, Philippine-style. I even remember one militant representative, who was banned to go to Singapore during the I'm not sure if it's IMF or WB talks, accusing Singapore of being immature.

Sorry for the rants. Things are just funny over here. =)

I hope this does not sound very OT.. Hehe

Hehe. Weird folks really.

Are you a filipino?

I have a Muslim friend living in Manila and he face alot of discrimination.

They people there are mostly and openly anti-Muslims.

[salted_ham]

yup.

Any anti feelings is "legal" in the Philippines.

People use "democracy" as an escape.

It's not common to hear racist/discriminating remarks in the Philippines.

Even a dark-skinned Filipino is degradingly called "Negro" or "Ita" in public. But hey, they get away with it. =)

Discrimination is not only towrds the Muslims but also the indigenous people like the Igorots, Mangyans....

There's even this sit com before where one of the actress's lines was "Ang pangit siguro Igorot mga parents mo" (You're ugly, maybe you're parents are Igorots)

This post has been edited by salted_ham: Mar 18 2007, 02:11 AM