(Bloggers – Government’s worst nightmare and at times, people’s hope! Image source: http://gal.darkervision.com)
From Malaysiakini:-
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar has suggested that a code of ethics be drawn up for bloggers in the country in order to safeguard the nation from racial or religious conflict.
Merah Hitam on the other hand asked “does Hamid Albar eligible to talk about code of ethics?”
Well, it is not the first time politicians are asking other people to do something that they don’t do it themselves. You don’t have to go far to see examples of this right here in Malaysia – just take one making racial and seditious statement. When a politician talks about it, it becomes his right to talk in the manner but when other talks the same; they are taken as real threat against the racial harmony in the country (they can count their lucky stars if the police don’t get interested and charges are not made)
At end of the day, it’s true that we all need some kind of codes of ethics to guide ourselves through but certainly we don’t need double standard politicians to suggest the same. It is better if they start with themselves first before they can be deemed as having locus to advice others. They can start by creating a codes of ethics for politicians.
By the way, for codes of ethics for bloggers, please refer to the Handbook for Bloggers by Reporters without Borders (they have more creditability than the Botak, the “ISA trigger happy” Home Minister) – page 23 on Ethics. It should be easier to expand from there.