Review Article by Dr. Rahmat Ghazali (http://suaramurba.blogspot.com/2011/11/artikel-2-paradox-of-malaysian-online.html)
In a developing and democratic country like Malaysia, it would be thought as a favor that would come in handy to have the existence of online journalism, thanks for the Internet, it meant anyone can gather up as many information and read up to about anything online of news around the world without limitations.
As Dr. Rahmat Ghazali had laid out in his article, “The Paradox of Malaysian Online Journalism”, Malaysia, a country of different cultures, races, religions and languages has gone through many racial-aggression incidents and crises, which had caused several social tensions, with the most memorable one being the 13th May racial fight in 1969 and others included the Kampong Rawa tragedy in 1998, the Kampong Medan racial conflict in 2000 and many more
Dr. Rahmat Ghazali had pointed out advantages of the online journalism in Malaysia and its potential to create something great and revolutionary that may bring the country forward to a better and sustainable future however, due to the social tension that had existed even before online journalism emerged, the tension is still here and it does not seem to dissipate anytime use and especially with online journalism in Malaysia being an active community today.
In his article, Dr. Rahmat Ghazali had wrote due to the support of the enactment of CMA 1998, it had caused “an explosion of online journalism” for the free of the press and it was the time when many had the freedom to voice out, to which he continued, “That was the period when we could see the minorities, the NGOs, civil and human rights activists, intellectuals as well as politicians across different ethnic background taking part in online journalism to have their voices communicated and be informed.” And up until today, it hasn’t stopped since.
The freedom of the press and freedom of expression in the online world should be a place where people from different background voice out for the times they could not on the outside world, the materials published without going through any sort of gatekeeping process, in comparison to writing a letter to any newspaper publication and have it rejected because it does not apply to the voice of the majority. Online journalism however allows that, and with that, it is supposedly to get readers to read with an open mind and to become an understanding netizen however it does not mean to publicly criticise irresponsibly and lose all the manners you would have in real life.
Consequently, as written by Dr.Rahmat Ghazali, regardless of the democracy of online journalism, it has however created the issue of social tension to expand and prolong as it adds more tension in a multiethnic society of Malaysia.
Online journalism can be put into good use and may benefit every individual for the better but it is the responsibility of the readers and writers to be conscious of the consequences to what their contributions to online journalism may be. Once a material is uploaded, millions of Internet users would come across it.
In addition, as online journalism brings out the most out of journalism than the printed media, however in Malaysia it lashes out due to the controversy it brings to those whom are not ready for an open discussion of sensitive topics or to discussion in a civilized manner. A portal that is meant to bring good however turns the society against each other due to the vast space of the virtual world of the materials with many capabilities.
Two Cents Heard 