Charter 2000-Aliran Media Statement
"Internet Monitoring" for Whose Benefit?
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Cyberspace: The "last frontier' |
Charter 2000-Aliran views with deep concern the Election Commission's intention to monitor the Internet in the forthcoming general election. This proposed monitoring in collaboration with the Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry could jeopardise the Commission's integrity and lead to conflict of interest.
The Internet serves as a popular 'last frontier' for the Opposition and government critics who often have little access to the mainstream media especially in the run-up to the elections. Denied such access, they use the Internet to transmit their views quickly to the public to counter the Barisan Nasional's propaganda.
We therefore wonder whether the Commission's move is aimed at not only curbing opposition campaigning but also further restricting the legitimate sharing of vital information among Malaysians who are concerned about democracy and their right to information.
Moreover, the authorities' so-called monitoring of e-mails actually constitutes a blatant disregard for the public's right to privacy of communication. It also smacks of Internet censorship, which the Mahathir administration had vowed not to carry out.
If this so-called Internet monitoring was triggered by concern for 'sensitive issues' on the Internet, then it is imperative for the EC to clearly spell out what is meant by 'sensitive'. Our recent past shows that this term can often mean anything and everything including issues not related to national security. Issues that threaten the ruling coalition's grip on power may also be considered 'sensitive'.
If the Commission is truly committed to fair and healthy electoral contests, it should monitor the mainstream media. In previous general elections, they have resorted to unethical and unprofessional one-sided coverage of election campaigns. State-run television stations - which are actually public property held in trust - should not be abused for partisan campaigning. There is a distinction between property owned by the state and property owned by the Barisan Nasional. RTM1 and RTM2 do not belong to the Barisan Nasional.
The Commission would also do Malaysians a great service by enforcing a limit to the expenditure incurred by the respective political parties and not just by individual candidates. This would go a long way in curbing money politics. It should remind contesting parties that a caretaker government during a general election campaign period does not have the moral authority or the political legitimacy to offer 'developmental goodies' to the voters in the weeks leading to the election. Such a practice should be outlawed. It should also be an offence for the media to publicise such political bribery during the campaign.
It is disturbing that the EC should be so concerned about dissenting views on the Internet when it doesn't seem to display the same concern for the unethical practices that we often see in the mainstream media and elsewhere during election campaigns. If the Commission is really honest about its intentions, it should focus its efforts in ensuring fair and ethical campaigning on a level playing field.
Dr Mustafa K Anuar and Anil Netto
Coordinators
Charter 2000-Aliran
17 July 2003
Charter 2000, an initiative to promote press freedom in Malaysia, is based on a media manifesto that has been endorsed by 34 Malaysian civil society and media groups
This statement was sent to the local media including The Star, New Straits Times, and The Sun.
