At first the government labeled bloggers as liars and spreaders of malicious rumors on the Internet. If memory serves correct the word ‘Bodoh‘ (Stupid) was regularly bandied by Barisan MP and assemblymen in reference to bloggers.
Now with the delivery of a stunning blow to the Barisan Government with the recent loss of the 2/3 majority and 5 states being lost to Opposition hands – these very same people are now singing a different tune. This possible reverse in policy speaks volumes on the effectiveness of the oppositions front’s concentrated cyberspace campaigning. Traditionally censored and often mistreated by the main stream media, the opposition parties made the decision to totally abandon the pro-government main stream media’s in favour for the uncensored and increasingly vocal avenue of The Internet.
Banking on the various blogs and party portals setup in the recent years, added with the inclusion of young and new technocrats into the parties, the strategy has undoubtedly paid off with the voice of the opposition finally being heard fairly. Additionally the move to cyberspace was a stroke of genius as the Internet proved to be a focal point in attracting the younger generation in greater numbers that ever before. Thus has the opposition’s message gone out and found willing ears to hear them.
Today with the stinging defeat being the proverbial slap in the face for the BN coalitions most damaged by the recent election, the blogging landscape seems to be a plausible venture that the coalition members are now eyeing. According to The Star’s article (following) Gerakan is already hinting at this possibility.
Gerakan to play role of opposition
Gerakan will play the role of a responsible and effective Opposition in the DAP-led Penang Government despite not winning a single seat in the state assembly.
Party adviser Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said it was a similar case with the DAP when it, too, did not win a single seat in the state assembly in 2004.
“They did not win then and they are forming the state government today. It depends on your determination. We have our organisation. All we need is to rebuild it,” he said.
On Sunday, acting Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon offered to step down after the party’s poor showing in the general election and said he was not sure how it was possible for the party to play the role of an effective Opposition in Penang when it did not win a single state seat.
Dr Lim said he would tell Dr Koh to “shut up and carry on” with his work. “You don’t abandon ship. Tsu Koon is always the gentleman. It’s time he becomes a political charger.”
He added that Gerakan would set up a team to monitor opinions voiced in blogs and websites on the Internet and maybe even come out with their own blogs to criticise the governments in the five states which fell to the Opposition.
It is the opinion of this blogger that it’s better late than never. The main reason the coalition members had lost can be attributed to the various coalition parties losing touch with the communities and people who put them in power in the first place. It is possible that with move to get online, these parties can begin to see the bigger picture and get in sync with the pulse of the people.
It is also my hope that the new ruling government will put and end to the whitewashing and the black-labeling of credible and sincere bloggers out there.
analysis
A year before the survey was done, several Umno delegates made disparaging and racist remarks against the non-Malay community at the party’s annual congress along with its infamous keris-raising incident.
Or consider what Badruddin Amiruddin (left), who has been picked to defend his Jerai parliament seat, said: “Let no one from the other races ever question the rights of Malays on this land. Don’t question the religion because this is my right on this land. Don’t poke at this nest, for if it were disturbed, these hornets will strike and destroy the country.“
Tricia Yeoh (right), director of Centre of Public Policy Studies, has put a rather tantalising question: “Will urban voters translate their political perceptions and sentiments into changing patterns at this general election?”
