I was talking to Malaysians recently and of course they weighed in strongly on politics. They were emphatic about the role blogs played (and still play) in their national politics since before the last election. Blogs were critical in providing an alternate media and a free voice – and this was no young firebrand but voiced by ordinary folk including a practical and level headed teacher.
Technology continues to play a significant role, they say and the Perak crisis, which they describe as the unconstitutional ejection of the former Menteri Besar, is the sort of attempt at side-stepping due process that can no longer be whitewashed.
Meanwhile, they emphasise, as if to convince me, that “in Singapore, everything works”. The typical, boisterous cross-causeway cajoling rivalry of the past no longer seems to provide amusement; they have bigger fish to fry.
Meanwhile, “Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, who maintains he is still Perak mentri besar, will file suit tomorrow to declare illegal the government of Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir, who was sworn-in by Sultan Azlan Shah last week…” – The Malaysian Insider.
Otterman speaks... 