Tricia Yeoh

Will be going to Bali, Indonesia for a conference soon, called “Publish What You Pay“, selected as part of the Malaysian delegation at this event that will bring together representatives from countries in the Asia-Pacific Region.

This initiative was founded by several institutes, including Oxfam, Transparency International UK and  Save the Children. Its goal is to encourage greater accountability and transparency in the financial reporting of the extractive industries. It is premised on the belief that many developing resource-rich countries have not necessarily translated these resources into an equivalent level of development for its people.

Malaysia of course is not really in that boat, having definitely prospered because of its resources like oil and tin. But there are certain issues that must still be tackled, like the transparency of funds that are channeled in and out to Government, and how these funds are being used exactly.

I see it as a good thing because it goes in line with what everyone is talking about these days. The hype word is transparency, accountability. I’ll be presenting on behalf of Malaysia. Will share some views after the team gathers its thoughts together!

Pascal Lamy, Sec-Gen of the World Trade Organisation, is going to be addressing Malaysians in August. I’ve been invited to attend his talk, and can’t help wondering whether there’s going to be any protests this time round. If I remember correctly, the last time Khairy J. was pictured in full view protesting in a crowd while sending a letter over to the American FTA negotiation team. Wonder whether he’s going to step up and do the same this year when Pascal comes round the neighbourhood. 😉

Wow, primary political blogger Jeff Ooi, who started the ball rolling on a lot of people, has finally decided that politics is for him! He’s joining the Democratic Action Party (DAP), and is making a big announcement tomorrow.

If I remember correctly, he never thought that politics was the way to go. However, right now perhaps there are so many politicians blogging already that the identity of a blogger alone has been weakened. This is obviously a good sign for the opposition group that has been publicly enticing good, young, professionals, English speaking ones, to form part of the struggle. Indeed, opposition politics will be strengthened if it can attract such folk.

Let’s see now. Things will certainly get interesting now…

In Nathaniel Tan’s statement after being released by the cops, (he was remanded for 4 days) he said that the internet policing officers themselves know and understand little of what a blog is all about. So much so that he had to explain how the blog operates, how comments are left on the site, etcetera.

In any case, I find it absolutely silly for bloggers to be held accountable for the comments that are left on their blog. Firstly, the concept of blogging itself means that there should be open discourse between blog owner and the public reader. Often the commenter does NOT agree with the blogger. Hence he writes something to draw out the discussion. To create debate, and there is space to do that online. It is ridiculous for the blogger to be held responsible for the statement/comment that he/she actually does not agree with in the first place! If you don’t want that, you “close” your comments, disallowing any discussion. The fact that comments are closed runs counter to the spirit of a blog – unless that is the intention of the blogger himself.

Secondly, comments left can be anonymous. So nobody can actually trace the comment that is left behind (unless you are an IT wiz and can search IP’s which I do not apologise for not being able to do).

Thirdly, there is a real possibility that someone else out there wanting to destroy your credibility and land you in jail, would post something seditious (being critical of Islam and the King, for example, which I would shudder to think of). This means that whoever in cyber-space who dislikes me just has to leave a comment on this post, for example (I really hope you don’t, please!).

Fourth, where do you draw the line? If, for example, I am a Malaysian living abroad say in Australia, who owns a blog and whose comment box happens to attract sarcastic statements? Will I be hauled up and called to Malaysian police stations? What about leaving such statements on other international sites like Facebook, the current hot favourite for social networking?  

The question on everyone’s mind now is exactly who is going to be called up next for “irresponsible blogging”, and for seditious/libel remarks against the Government/someone close to the top/anything really that irks someone who can pull strings.

Oh the earnest anticipation!