A recent report on Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reveals that more Internet journalists have been imprisoned than journalists writing in other mediums. CPJ conducted a survey, which found 125 journalists behind bars on December 1 (click here for detailed accounts). The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is reported to be the country most intolerant of journalists,… [Read more…]
December 3, 2008
Updated with link to French version. The Penan tribe, indigenous people of East Malaysia, have taken quite some press and blog space this year. Allegations of rape on their women folk by logging companies were initially reported by the Bruno Manser Fonds (BMF), a wildlife and environmental NGO. As a result of press coverage, the Women, Family and… [Read more…]
December 2, 2008
An editor of an established newspaper, newly revamped, called me up recently, offering me a full-time job. I mulled silently on the phone line, as the editor waited patiently. She finally said, “You know, you don’t have to come in at all, except maybe now and then. I know you’ll hit your deadlines on time.… [Read more…]
November 30, 2008
The state government of Pahang in peninsular Malaysia has hired three bloggers to counter inaccurate or slanderous allegations and comments posted on the Internet. According to Bernama, State Information, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman, Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin announced that the appointed bloggers would be paid allowances and be given computers and Internet access in their… [Read more…]
November 26, 2008
Another good piece from Malaysiakini. Very insightful. Highlights: Secularism has itself become a messianic religion, convinced of its own infallibility, hostile towards dissent, and determined to place strict limits on how all other systems of faith and belief in society are practiced. The high priests of secularism are the educated middle classes, who use their… [Read more…]
November 25, 2008
After much antagonism over blogs in Malaysia, the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, suggested recently that bloggers form their own ethics code to ensure accountability and fairness in their writings. Syed Hamid, who opened the Bloggers Buff 2008 Conference, emphasized the importance of this because most bloggers do not have a journalism background. The Home Minister, acknowledging that… [Read more…]
November 23, 2008
elawyer Malaysia is having a special blogging competition. I would love to participate, but honestly, I have no time. So, if you’re interested: eLawyer, as your local legal community portal, would like to hear your views and concerns regarding some of the issues currently affecting the legal community and the country, as a whole. We would… [Read more…]
November 13, 2008
[post updated with link to Spanish version] This is my first post for Global Voices, so yay! Amidst a number of recent journalistic blunders, Malaysia’s Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, announced that the government has full intention of establishing a national media policy, together with a regulatory body over Malaysian media. Syed Hamid said that… [Read more…]
November 12, 2008
Apparently the ghost sighting on Bukit Gasing is a hoax. However, viewers of the video wondered if the footage was actually of a real murder scene. More than 3,000 people watched it and made up their own views. Voize.my has the inside scoop. Click here for the video.
November 11, 2008
A new initiative has been formed to assist corporations on privacy and free speech issues, the Global Network Initiative. The initiative, comprised of a coalition of human rights, media development and research organizations, and Internet and communications companies, put together a code of conduct on this matter to ensure that ICT companies acknowledge their “responsibility to respect and protect the freedom of expression and privacy… [Read more…]
November 9, 2008
Seacem is now conducting a course on Citizen Journalism 101, with an emphasis on vlogging. I am now attending the course, meaning every other weekend sitting in class. Actually… I’m in class right now. There are slightly less than twenty people here, and most of them are youngsters, although there are a few oldies like… [Read more…]
November 5, 2008
[post updated with powerpoint presentation courtesy of Foong Cheng Leong] Thursday 23rd October was a busy day for me. I rushed through the day to get to town by five (I was told five, but apparently, it was six) for the Forum on Blogging and Defamation Laws, organised by the Information Technology Committee of the Kuala… [Read more…]
November 5, 2008
[post updated with link to Spanish, Arabic and Bangla translations] To celebrate All Hallow’s Eve and All Saints’ Day (Day of the Dead), Global Voices has a special feature on “Ghosts, ghouls, myths and legends“. My first for this special, and my second Global Voices contribution, is as follows: Lush with primary and secondary virgin jungle,… [Read more…]
November 3, 2008
My second one for the Ghosts Ghouls Myths and Legends special for Global Voices. One of the most enduring legends of South East Asia is the Pontianak, said to be a bone-white lady, with ruby-red eyes, who is borne from her death in birth-giving. The Pontianak, or sometimes called the “Kuntilanak”, lives in almost all… [Read more…]
October 31, 2008
The Thai government is planning to set up a firewall to block websites considered to be insulting to the country’s monarch, together with other Internet content deemed inappropriate. According to news reports, the Communications Ministry has received more than 1,000 complaints on websites which are considered offensive to the royal family. Thailand, a constitutional monarchy, has severelese majeste laws that have… [Read more…]
December 11, 2008
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