Malaysia has set up a task force to check online for any posting which they deem harmful to national unity.
This trend in Muslim countries to seek to ban anything regarding freedom of speech is particularly worrying. I sense the real frustration is an inability to adjust to the reality of New Media and the freedom this avails ordinary citizens to express opinions supportive or critical of the state.
Ultimately the issue is about control and a unhealthy desire for Muslim countries to control everything from blackberries to blogs. How can banning the freedom of opinions do anything for national unity other than create additional interest in the views of someone who a state finds threatening.
LM likes Malaysia and am very fond of Malaysians who I find some of the most impressive and friendly Muslims in the world however, this task force is a retrograde step when an unknown and unaccountable bureaucrat decides on your behalf what you can and cannot read.
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