Friend Nik Nazmi is running for election and he has produced a video articulating his agenda for his constituency.
[youtube]QE0qA8H-g60[/youtube]
At the Malay College, we used to joke that he would be the first among our class to be thrown into prison, courtesy of ISA. We did not joke about him being the first among our class to run for public office.
Friends. Remember to blog about Nik Nazmi tomorrow as part of an initiative to put bloggers into public office!
While I am at it, allow me to touch a criticism directed at the effort made by Siber Party of Malaysia. They wrote:
While we read blogs and we do operate a blog, it is only our platform and website to inform the good citizens of Malaysia about our views and policies on matters that concern all Malaysians.
Which also means we are not going to support a blogger because he or she is a blogger. we want to know their stand, their approach, their policies, philosophies, politics on all things Malaysian and the world. [Between axes. Siber Party of Malaysia. February 25 2008]
I absolutely agree that we should not support a candidate just because the candidate is a blogger. Yet, I need to point out that the criticism misses the whole point of the initiative: the initiative at its heart is about freedom. I wrote ‘liberty’ or ‘freedom’ no less than 4 times in emails that I sent out to probably 100 bloggers and the entry which introduces the initiative.
The idea behind the effort is to put those that embrace freedom of expression into public offices. From these offices, they have opportunities to defend their and our freedom from tyranny. I honestly believe the bloggers whom I have listed believe in freedom of speech, which is essential to blogging. Elizabeth Wong has probably been doing something for liberty when I was in diaper (okay, that is an exaggeration). Jeff Ooi knows what freedom of expression is, especially when it revolves around blogging and I know enough of Nik Nazmi to know that he appreciates freedom. TAs for Badrul Hisham a.k.a. chegubad, well, he is up against the son-in-law.
The crux of the message is freedom. Indeed, supporting a candidate just because he is a blogger does not make sense. I would certain not support a religious extremist‘s candidacy for public office just because he is a blogger.
So, Siber Party of Malaysia, are you willing to reconsider your position?
5 replies on “[1563] Of Nik Nazmi’s manifesto and putting bloggers into office”
Hey there,
I agree that bloggers should not be elected just because they’re blogger. But as I’ve said, at the heart of the initiative is freedom of expression and so, your criticism misses the point.
Regarding Jeff, it is his blog and hence, it is his private property. He is free to do whatever he wishes with his private property.
As for Kickdefella, he is not running for election and he is not in the list of bloggers some of us are highlighting. So, I am not obliged to defend him.
Hi Hafiz,
We in SiPM still hold by our stand that bloggers shouldn’t be elected just because they are bloggers. We still think that the are just any other candidate which needs to win voters over by explaining how they’ll provide solutions to the ills which ail us, not just stating what they will do, but how will they logically achieve it. They’ll need to enthrall us with their philosophies and what they stand for, in order for us to make an informed decision if they are the ideal representative of the people.
Your notion that these candidate support freedom of expression may be true for some, but there are some who do not exhibit such traits either. Let’s take Jeff Ooi for example. He’s very well known for silencing thoughts critical of his view on his blog with a simple, “Don’t hijack my blog”. Doesn’t freedom of expression also cover the rights of your detractors to state their piece ?
And we all still are ever reminded of the time that SiPM party members were banned from commenting by Kickdefella, just for stating our stand that the plaintiffs had the right under Malaysian law to file suit against Rocky and Jeff.
mudasir, anyone has the freedom to choose the “flag” they want to contest. Independent doesn’t mean more freedom. Contest under the flag of incumbent doesn’t mean one has the freedom to speak or utilised resources. Bare in mind that, independent candidates can be bought, for a price.
I suggest one who claim themselves to embed the liberalism idea to read ZhuangZi. Most of the liberal logical deadlock are solved inside Zhuangzi. Immanuel Kant,Adam Smith might be a “big name”, but the book of Zhuangzi are must straightforward.
[…] Hat tip to Hafiz […]
Your argument wouldve been valid if all you named were running on an independant ticket. With the exception of jeff ooi, I don’t see anyone else in that list to be considered as a substantionally influential Malaysian Blogger that was selected by the party they are representing solely on their popularity and reach from blogging.