THE INTERNET RULES

By Akhmad Kusaeni

“The pen is mightier than the sword, but the Internet rules”.
This slogan written in a drinking mugs and distributed as souvenir to the guests when Malaysiakini.com celebrated its first anniversary in 2000.
The Internet rules? At least it does in Malaysia.

(In what context was Malaysiakini born?)
In Malaysia, the mainstream media rarely publish articles critical of the powers that be. That leaves Malaysia’s best-known web newspaper, Malaysiakini.com, as the country’s only credible independent voice. Malaysiakini had broken “the government’s monopoly on the truth”. Just over a year since it began operations in November 1999, the site claims 250,000 readers a day.
Malaysiakini was formed by journalists who had worked in the mainstream media, who were getting a bit fed up with the level of censorship in the mainstream media. Steven Gan, one of the founders, felt there was a need to get into an alternative medium to break self-censorship, to get across to Malaysians ... that information is not getting through.

(A proof of diminishing control of information)
There are a few reasons why the Internet was the best way for alternative media. The first reason is because there are quite a lot of people going into the Internet. It is a new medium and it is not being censored. Other reasons are they don't need to raise that much money; they don't have to worry about distribution--it is there already. They also don't have to get a publication license, which is required of all print and broadcast media in Malaysia.
“With an Internet site you don't have to worry about getting a publication license, you don't need to worry about getting an annual permit, to renew it ..,” said Gan in an interview.
In short words, Malaysiakini is a proof of diminishing state control of information and the media. The ruling party in Malaysia (UMNO), and its allies, might owned or controlled most of the mainstream newspapers and broadcast stations in the country. Malaysian Government might have a very strict licensing that makes it virtually impossible for critical newspapers to emerge. There is very little room for editors in print and broadcast media to go beyond, in terms of criticizing the governing political parties in Malaysia. But, Malaysiakini had effectively sidestepped the tough regulations by publishing solely on the Internet.

(The factors behind its success)
Malaysiakini help to improve the media situation in Malaysia. That online newspaper is putting pressures on the mainstream media by reporting things that are not being reported by mainstream media. People are able to see that there is other news that is not being reported in the mainstream media.
For example, the chief justice had gone on holiday with a corporate lawyer who had appeared in his court. That was clearly a case of judicial misconduct, but that was not appeared in headlines of the mainstream media. Only Malaysiakini had published that controversial holiday.
There were photos on the Internet of the chief justice and the lawyer together in New Zealand. Malaysiakini also published evidences, which included ticket stubs showing that they actually took the same plane all the way to and from New Zealand with their families.
Malaysiakini attracts public attention because it gives people “the other side of stories”. It gives them “out there news”. It gives information that they couldn’t find it in mainstream media.
There are other factors behind its success. The most important thing is Malaysiakini breaks “government’s monopoly of the truth”. Malaysiakini becomes one of the country’s only sources of independent news.
International Press Institute (IPI) gave Media Pioneer Award to Malaysiakini because “the online organization works against a backdrop of harsh government restriction on independent and pro-opposition print media”.
IPI Media Pioneer Award was established to honor “individual or organizations who have fought against great odds to ensure free and more independent media in their country”.

(What could make it fail in the future?)
Despite the site’s popularity, however, Malaysiakini financial fortunes faltered. In order to survive, it began charging a subscription fee to access a portion of its content in February 2002. Annual subscription fees range from $36 to $79.
Malaysiakini now averages about 15.000 readers per day, said Charmaine Ong, business development manager, a sharp drop from the 250.000 readers the site formerly attracted. The fail in its readership is partly attributed to the more stable political climate.
The mainstream newspapers took a hit in terms of their circulation and readership during and after the trial of Anwar Ibrahim because of the public’s hunger for more balanced and independent news coverage. Alternative news providers flourished and mainstream newspapers began to see a decline.
Since then, the political atmosphere in Malaysia has quieted down and this climate of relative calm has helped mainstream newspapers regain readers. Mainstream newspapers are also now more aware of the need and reader’s demand for more independent and balanced coverage.

(Malaysiakini, power and public sphere)
While Malaysiakini says they are fighting for the “free press” in Malaysia, to the Malaysian elite the press is not for the open discussion of issues, but for relaying and publicizing policies already agreed. In other words, to the Malaysian ruling government, Malaysiakini is not the Messiah of the Press – he’s just a very naughty boy!
In Malaysia, every segment of the community, including media, has to operate within an understanding of what is best described as the “Malaysian way”. As defined by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad on many occasions, the “Malaysian way” is to get around a table and discuss issues together, rather than in the open and publicly. Mahathir often boasts that Malaysian workers never take to the streets to demonstrate, unlike those in South Korea and Western countries for example.
In the foreign affairs department, the “Malaysian way”, sometimes likened to the “Asian way”, is the overriding philosophy behind Mahathir’s strong views on the way ASEAN should work embodied in the principle of “non-interference” – that member countries should not publicly criticize policy of other ASEAN countries openly, but instead discuss problems at an appropriate level in private.
The “Malaysian way” can be seen as having it’s origins in Confucian philosophy which sees political power as being centralized within an intellectual elite of “learned scholars”. Policy is discussed within this elite, and then distributed to the masses when all has been agreed. This assumes that the masses have little education and are the best led by this group.
Malaysiakini refuses to play “The Malaysian way”. It promotes open discussion on issues that the government would prefer to be discussed only among the elite. It promotes a political consciousness, which is foreign to many Malaysians who have been happy to leave decisions to the government while their standard of living spiraled up-wards.

References:
- Mostly from news and articles from the websites such as Malaysiakini.com, UMNO, CPJ and other sources