REVIEW: Cyber Balkanization: Distraction to the essence of 1Malaysia

I am very interested in reviewing an article written by Dr Rahmat Ghazali as entitled “Cyber Balkanization: Distraction to the essence of 1Malaysia”, that has been published in his blog http://suaramurba.blogspot.com/2011/11/artikel-4-cyber-balkanisation.html .At the beginning of the writing, the author had explained that the meaning of cyber balkanization as a new term introduced by Cass Sustein in 2001. According to Sustein Cass, the media phenomenon today can be compared as a “cyber balkanization” situation when the media has power to nature the society become segregated and separated indirectly.

In easy words, the author tries to reveal on how the power of internet that affordable to affect the essence of 1Malaysia as it has a tendency to shape the citizens becomes segregated and colonies.  The author found that the internet technology that allows users to customize, filter and select their needs and wants are easily prospered among multiethnic Malaysians who had been naturally segregated by their cultural, religious belief, educational and mother tongues.

The author claimed that this situation has been deployed well by the irresponsible opponent parties to inject a bad and hatred sentiments against the government agenda. When the media can be freely used by anyone without any filters, the concept of democracy of country that has long been embedded by Malaysian might be varnished.  I totally agreed with this statement. The critical of political stabilization today has portrayed enough the consequences of the bad of cyber balkanization.  Because of the divergent of opinions among the government and opposition parties or their followers, the facts will be clashed obviously in the new media.

They try to win the peoples heart by telling and convincing people with dynamic mechanism. Without doubt, the society or citizens will be the determinants for the rights. But, the problem is, to gain the full support and winning peoples heart, some irresponsible parties might tend to use a dirty tactic to shake the provision by spreading the negative quarrels. The defamatory happened almost every day. Inappropriately they were also using immoral and harsh words to criticize the opponent.  More severe, sometimes the issues were involving a few sensitive issues regarding races and religions. For example, the implementation of law of Hudud and the usage of word Allah among non-Muslim.

My point of view is obviously parallel with author’s opinion as well. The freedom given to use new media nowadays has brought bad consequences to the country. Even though our main aim is to be the first country in Asia as a hub of intellectual enlargement but we need somebody in line to monitor the usage of internet among citizens. As a democracy country, we have to comprehend that there is no absolute freedom might be given. To keep the peace and stay on track to achieve the vision of 2020’s, we must concern about the idea in shaping a strong unity through 1Malaysia concept.

In the article, the author made people easily to understand the concept by giving a simple example of Brazilian footballer named Pele. The author discovered by using Google lookups that we might exposed for 22.6 million details about Pele in one search engine.   Internet express for deepest curiosity, some people whom is obsessed to Pele will keep searching more about Pele and they may found more and more. The example given is really easy to understand by readers to see what the thickener of root point tried to deliver. From here, we can see that Pele as a football legend which may be a source of inspiration, but what if Pele brings a negative typical; that could probably be his followers become negative as him too. If people obsessed for something, the same thing will occur. Even if you convey a low ethical value action, it might be followed by others because they obsessed on you.

In Malaysia context, we can see how the HarakahDaily dan MalaysiaKini spreading negative perspectives against the government. We tried to understand their intention but it is absolutely inappropriate to shape detestation in winning peoples heart. The voice of justice as what they try to screech clearly failed to obey the ethics of professionalism and journalism.  Dr Rahmat is very intelligent in leaving comments on these issues. As a democracy country, we should be opened in informing people without biasness. As conclusion, cyber balkanization has spawned broken pieces of society with deck different flow. No matter what, in dreaming for a develop country parallel with Vision2020, cyber balkanization is a very disturbing the flow for country in achieving the goal. The freedom we granted today must be attached with a good journalism ethics in line with passionate in becoming the first class world country.