At least two ministers in Malaysia were recently reported to have been subscribed to the idea that imposing some degree of controlling & monitoring over blogging activities should be made a public policy. The closest model - as iterated by them - is Singapore, where bloggers are constantly monitored by the Republic State.
Singapore - then under Lee Kuan Yew - had chosen a particular brand of democracy, called controlled democracy. It is an austere system which continues to be the subject of much debate. At all time, Singapore means business. The island recognized that in order to compete with its large and resource-rich neighbours, it had to create an environment that boosted confidence, within and without. One of the approaches or measures taken was to attract talent from abroad. This was realised in 1997 when - following the launching of "Operation Contact Singapore" Singaporeans and foreign talents were persuaded to stay and live in Singapore.
Now, back to Malaysia. Soon after this, we will probably see a new climate of blogging. Whatever it is, bloggers will nevertheless be more selective in detailing out highly-sensitive issues. In other words, let all sensitive issues handled by the authority (read: handled by non-opposition politicians, in or outside the Parliament). Anyways, bloggers still have the freedom to write and express feelings; but only in the fields of non-political, non-partisan issues such as entertainment and other social activities. (Political maturity, therefore, is not very much in perspective here). What about this: "Man by nature is political animals"? Are bloggers not "man"?
