Another ‘dimwit’ minister on the loose

Liar, cheats, and a threat to national unity, says one dimwit.

Now another has joined the ranks of dimwits and says we are ‘frustrated journalists’, ‘political pundits’, and ‘anarchist websites’.

We are also “provocative, politically motivated, inaccurate and is mostly rumour floated for the interests of certain parties”.

We must be “regarded with suspicion and refer to the mainstream media for the truth”.

Honestly, I don’t know whether to laugh or shout, but coming from Zam, the Information Minister, I’d rather puke.

If we are such rumour-mongers, why be afraid of bloggers in the first place. Why such concerted effort to outcast all of us, though not all are political blogs.

I’d rather say don’t listen to Ministers or politicians for hiding the truth, for causing tension among the people with their inflammatory speeches and for shaming the nation with their unpolished remarks, causing foreigners to label us ‘Malaysia Bodoh’.

Yes, perhaps you can say mine is an anarchist website cause I have openly declared that I have no political master, and slave to no ideology, nor am I an admirer of any politician – government or opposition.

Sorry, Zam, you’d have to work harder to attract my attention. The rate you are going, more will join the ranks of hating you, than loving you.

Read what Zam has to say about bloggers here:

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin has told domestic newspapers not to quote from Internet blogs or use them as sources of information, accusing the websites of spreading rumours, reports said today.

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin said most websites were aimed at being provocative and were run by frustrated journalists and political pundits, the Star daily reported.

“Do not quote them because you are disgracing yourself as you are the authority. Do not give credit to such anarchist websites,” Zainuddin was quoted as saying.

Malaysia’s media is kept under tight control, while blogs have seen an increase in popularity as Malaysians take to cyberspace to discuss politics and social issues.

Blogs run by Malaysians in recent months have alleged corruption by government figures in writings that later sparked mainstream news reports.

“The information posted on the blog website may be something provocative, politically motivated, inaccurate and is mostly rumour floated for the interests of certain parties,” Zainuddin was quoted as saying by the state Bernama news agency.

The minister also called on Malaysians to regard blogs with suspicion and refer to the mainstream media for the truth, Bernama reported.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi earlier this year accused Malaysians of using the Internet to rumour-monger.

Two bloggers are currently being sued by the government-linked New Straits Times Press for defamation.

- AFP