New politics via internet

I was introduced to the social networking website, Facebook prior to the March 8 general election last year by a renowned local professional photographer.

As he demonstrated to me how this website can do wonders in term of hooking up with people from all over the world, I was amazed at how at this age of information technology, we could access not only any information on the internet but also connect us with people, especially our friends or relatives whom we have lost contact and have been abroad for years.

This photographer friend of mine showed me a reply from Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd who thanked him for his congratulatory message sent via Facebook for Rudd’s election as the Prime Minister.

A personal reply from personalities like a Prime Minister of course would send anyone of us into seventh heaven.

Likewise, my friend was so proud that he showed everyone of us the reply.

The point is here. Politicians nowadays can not only rely on mainstream media for publicity purposes as people, be it old or young have started to rely on the internet to know their elected representatives or aspiring politicians better and to find alternative source of news.

If in the past, politicians needed to walk miles and miles for house to house visit, then in this age of digital technology, a click on the mouse is what it takes to connect with the people.

I must acknowledge that the Opposition had utilised this technology to the fullest in the March 8 general election and the result garnered by them is a proof of how effective and efficient the tool is.

We need not look far at West Malaysia but at our very own yard where DAP Bandar Kuching MP, Chong Chieng Jen whose daily campaign ceramahs during the general election were uploaded on the YouTube and one could just sit at home and look at the YouTube to listen to what he has got to say.

And then there is state DAP chairman, Wong Ho Leng, the Bukit Assek state assemblyman whom I consider as one of the most active in the blogosphere in the state for writing his thoughts on many issues affecting the people.

This is indeed a smart move by the Opposition politicians whom have claimed that they are being denied publicity by the mainstream media.

The Malaysian Insider news portal which has turned one year old recently meanwhile has attracted a large number of followers for alternative news source apart from the Malaysiakini.

A news editor who happened to be in my office for a chat recently told me how fast this alternative news media could disseminate its news which is being updated every single minute to the extend that the printed media has lost out.

Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has even created his own Facebook account to connect to the people whom I have noticed have added Dr Mahathir as their political fan, apart from other well known politicians like Taiwanese President, Ma Ying Jeou and US first black President, Barack Obama.

Dr Mahathir’s chedet blog for instance has registered million of hits where his blog has become one of the most popular blogs around.

One thing noticeable is that most of the state Barisan Nasional politicians have really yet to concur this internet hype to reach out to the people.

The urgent thing to do now is for these politicians to find ways of how to utilise tools like Facebook, YouTube and blog to send their messages across to the wide spectrum of society as well as to connect themselves to the people.

Relying on the mainstream media alone is insufficient and furthermore, the mainstream media is very much hand tight with strict regulations and filtration by the various authorities, resulting in the people sourcing for alternative news on the internet.

Nevertheless, as one seasoned assistant minister once said, while we could obtain almost everything and anything on the internet, there must still be a discerning ability on our part and we should not assume that everything reported on the internet is the gospel truth.

Whatever it takes, the only choice left for politicians from both divides if they want to effectively reach out to the people, especially the younger generation which will be crucial in swaying the votes, is through the internet.

Failure to do so may spell trouble for these politicians who will be left behind in this era of technology.