Do not post untruths...

[kwchang]

So, finally, it is decided -you should read it in TheStar about Those who spread untruths on the Net will be detained

The PM had issued a warning to people who "spread untruths and slander on the Internet".

See, see, I told you so ..... many, many times oredi.
Now you can go to jail instead of the banana plantation.

[aurora97]

I doubt it will have any legal significance, whether the Prosecutors can manage to built a strong case against any offender because 75% of information on the web can be very misleading and distorted.

Take Singapores "Talking cock" (http://www.talkingcock.com/) Web site for example, they use real life information and distort it mix it up and turn it into a sarcastic humour and at times offensive.

Even with Singapores strict law, they were sued for libel but without any success and their premises raided.

I am not asking people to randomly post stuff on the internet, but taking to action against people who publish material on the web site is nonetheless not a wise idea. It is a grey area in which the government just like what they did to the mass media in Malaysia (exception Astro) start to censor the internet, to the extent that only Government approved materials can be posted? Malaysia is not China and we do not need the constant dependence and watchful eye of the government to lead our lives.

Nevertheless, it is always wise to abide and follow rules of the forum. This rules are there for a purpose not to restrict our freedom, but to ensure that this forum remains a forum for discussion without any malafide intentions.

[kwchang]

Me I am a chicken and have no dreams of being superman. Hence I don't want any heat from the Heat, if you know what I mean. It is a hassle not worth my sacrifice keeping you people in check. If someone wants to tempt execution of our cyberlaws, PLEASE do it elsewhere because I am so avian-inclined that I'd probably henpeck you people to death if you want to be superman.

See, aurora, you have already said it

very misleading and distorted

... so why can't we keep our posts simple and straight forward and whenever it sounds 'distorted' - please check it out, get references, check out the references, et cetera ... and if in doubt, just stop posting lah.

[jasonbhlee]

So, finally, it is decided -you should read it in TheStar about Those who spread untruths on the Net will be detained

The PM had issued a warning to people who "spread untruths and slander on the Internet".

See, see, I told you so ..... many, many times oredi.
Now you can go to jail instead of the banana plantation.

Normally we post news which are true. It is just that people cannot accept it as truth. They label it as sensitive. What you say to that? My level of acceptance is different from yours....so how?

[yvonnefoong]

I don't understand though. Who will decide what is slander and what is falsity in this case? Besides, even newspaper opinions should receive priviledge as rhetorical hyperboles. Are our citizens with right thinking minds too naive to discern opinions from facts, to the point that it affects their judgements? If we are that naive, then should the standard of Malaysian education given to us be blamed? I won't ask Chang to risk for us, but what is going to happen to Malaysia if we agree to internet policing? If only those who disagree would object with one voice.

[joker2107]

i m sure many detractors of tdm are now clamouring for his return
btw, truth is sometimes a mere perspective, depending on what game is being played and who the players are. nonetheless, i'd be please with deterents which assist forumers to think before typing.

[aurora97]

Me I am a chicken and have no dreams of being superman. Hence I don't want any heat from the Heat, if you know what I mean. It is a hassle not worth my sacrifice keeping you people in check. If someone wants to tempt execution of our cyberlaws, PLEASE do it elsewhere because I am so avian-inclined that I'd probably henpeck you people to death if you want to be superman.

See, aurora, you have already said it ... so why can't we keep our posts simple and straight forward and whenever it sounds 'distorted' - please check it out, get references, check out the references, et cetera ... and if in doubt, just stop posting lah.

Like i said in the end quoting myself:
"Nevertheless, it is always wise to abide and follow rules of the forum. This rules are there for a purpose not to restrict our freedom, but to ensure that this forum remains a forum for discussion without any malafide intentions."

I am just giving my 2cents and the otherside of the coin scenario, i think i am still entitled to that right?

kwchang as an administrator in a forum its no easy task everyone should know this, i appreciate the fact that you constantly keep the forum in check and everything in tip top condition. Unlike other forums which if kept unchecked for a couple of days, situations could go amok or worse. Hence, i would like to say thank you and keep up the good work.

[mon]

Like i said in the end quoting myself:
"Nevertheless, it is always wise to abide and follow rules of the forum. This rules are there for a purpose not to restrict our freedom, but to ensure that this forum remains a forum for discussion without any malafide intentions."

kwchang as an administrator in a forum its no easy task everyone should know this, i appreciate the fact that you constantly keep the forum in check and everything in tip top condition. Unlike other forums which if kept unchecked for a couple of days, situations could go amok or worse. Hence, i would like to say thank you and keep up the good work.

I agree. Never had the chance to really say "thank you Chang"

Thank you Chang.

[hhtee]

Perhaps the mechanism on how it is possible for a forumer / blogger to be caught should be discussed so that future / current forumer / blogger would not be tempted to post things irresponsibly.

Is there some sort of logging system whenever one posts something on the net ?

[bugbear]

You know kwchang, what AAB said is tantamount to regulation and censorship of the internet. By saying thus, he is opening ways to prosecute all and saundry. This is the saddest day for free speech. AAB should be coutious in what he is saying lest it be contrue as going against the spirit of MSC.

[kwchang]

Perhaps the mechanism on how it is possible for a forumer / blogger to be caught should be discussed so that future / current forumer / blogger would not be tempted to post things irresponsibly

Why should someone need to know the loopholes for escape?
That is not the 'netiquette' that this website had been pushing all long.
We have our goal of educating citizens for responsible usage of the net.
I thank joker2107 and aurora97 for their comments...

..i'd be please with deterents which assist forumers to think before typing..

rules are there for a purpose not to restrict our freedom, but to ensure that this forum remains a forum for discussion without any malafide intentions

jasonbhlee, it is not about absolute freedom to say ANYthing just because it is true or perceived to be true. Posting on the web requires RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY. If everyone are responsible and accountable PLUS being sensitive to their fellow human beings, there will never be any necessity for cyber-police. Let me put it this way, there are more ways to skin a cat (with apologies to pet lovers), hence avoid the confrontational ways. We are hoping that those ways evolved away with the Neanderthals but we cannot help noticing that some Neanderthals are roaming aplenty in our midsts.

the bottomline is self-censorship
with this, there will never be any need to censor the Internet

[isarahim]

Now you can go to jail instead of the banana plantation.

Is that true?

[Teeque]

The truth is, truth hurts. censor or no censor.

[blues]

[QUOTE=kwchang]Me I am a chicken and have no dreams of being superman. Hence I don't want any heat from the Heat, if you know what I mean. It is a hassle not worth my sacrifice keeping you people in check. If someone wants to tempt execution of our cyberlaws, PLEASE do it elsewhere because I am so avian-inclined that I'd probably henpeck you people to death if you want to be superman.QUOTE]

ya kwchang ! the same.

some forumers were trying to be the champion of all.
we read....and they may have record ?

[sirgalahad2010]

The reports have spread to Spore.

Heading of a report by Reme Ahmad reporting from KL in today's Spore Straits Times (http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg): "Internet users fear govt crackdown".

The first line of the report: "The cyberspace community in Malaysia is bracing itself for a possible crackdown after PM Abdullah Badawi issued a warning against those who spread 'incorrect infomation and slander' on the Internet".

The report said that popular blogger aisehman has declared that he would stop writing for a while as he is concerned about what is to happen.

The report also said that the police are taking action against malaysiakini.com over a post that blamed the police for the pepper spray incident.

Straws in the wind? Or a warning not to go beyond the OB (Out-of-Bounds) markers?

Let us not delude ourselves. In Spore, the IT and info hub of the region, the govt has cracked down on blogs that were deemed to infringe on racial and religious sensitivities, with some bloggers being brought to court.

And in the US, the supposed bastion of free speech, blogs that spew racial hatred have been shut down, either by the govt or by the hosts themselves. Journalists in the US have been prosecuted and jailed for not revealing the sources for their investigative reports.

People think that freedom of speech on the Internet is absolute. It is not. Its liking giving a kid a box of matches, then standing back with arms folded and saying that you are not responsible if the kid starts a fire, simply because he doesn't know any better. Do you wait for the fire to get started before trying to put it out, or take away the box of matches first?