Mainstream media discourse is unethically lopsided with scarce informed analyses of state affairs or bold initiatives to expose corruption in the public and private sectors. Standards of journalism continue to slide because of weak editorial leadership and poor professional training.This mess must be addressed if May 5 ushers in a new regime. And, if the miracle does happen, I hope the new government – after the euphoria – will not evolve to become what they have relentlessly opposed. However, if BN continues to rule, but with a smaller majority, we will endure and build more windmills to catch the winds of change and keep the momentum turning for another five years
It’s an interesting hypothesis but not one, in my view, borne out by the study.
The fairly crude statistical analysis goes like this: look at the number of FB users, voters and margin of victory in a constituency, and look for constituencies in which the number of FB users exceeds the margin of victory. Conclusion: in those constituencies, FB could sway an election.
These are what I see as the problems in this analysis:
1. The study does not measure what if any is the overlap between FB users and voters, without which the analysis is incredibly crude.
an FB user is probably less likely to vote and by extension sway an election.
2. The study does not look at the types of conversations people are having on Facebook. In my experience of FB and Twitter, people with existing preferences for a political party ‘follow’ the party and have discussions with like-minded people. If the study was able to demonstrate that FB was swaying voter beliefs, then its ability to swing elections could be discussed. But it doesn’t.
The most compelling statistic I’ve seen on this came from a Pew Research survey on social media and politics in the US. One question asked respondents: “Have you, personally, ever…changed your views about a political issue after discussing it or reading posts about it on a social networking site?”
More generally, I feel this study – and many commentators – make the mistake of seeing Facebook as a “thing” that can “do” things to its users (sway/ convince) rather than a “place” where, like a tea-shop, people have conversations, more often than not with people like themselves.
The potential of the social media in influencing Indian politics is immense and fascinating. Unfortunately, I don’t think this study proves it.
Emergence of right-wing demagogues. PERKASA propagates a Malay birth-right to rule and perpetuates a sense of entitlement, regardless of the lack of merits or needs. UMNO fights for Malay rights and Islam. Chinese NGOs fight for Chinese rights. The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) fights for Indians and Hinduism, although we recognise that the movement was born from the plights of Malaysia’s poorest Tamils
- Money drives the politics. Corruption creates the connections. Politics open the pathway to ill-gotten wealth. Hence, the jostles and backstabs for nominations. Overlooked candidates feel short-changed, so they sell their soul to any party or anyone just to stay in politics for self-gain than for public service.
- Iconoclasts are demonised as threats to national security. Sedition laws are invoked or courts approached to silence political dissent.readmore ‘Flirtatious’: SEX, LIES, AND EMAIL Who Owns My Brain?
- Government cabinet comprises more corrupt imbeciles than intelligent technocrats with integrity.
- Poor land and sea border control – evident by the invasion of Lahad Datu – and the influx of illegal immigrants by sea and land. The country’s intelligence and surveillance forces are in doubt.
- Rising violent crime in the city targeted at the elderly and young vulnerables. This is symptomatic of a failed and corrupt police force.
- Continuing brain drain, exacerbated by the influx of unskilled labour from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The Petaling Street of today is no longer one that I remember in the 70s.
- Budget deficit is in its ninth year, which means grave implications on public services and taxes.
- Mainstream media discourse is unethically lopsided with scarce informed analyses of state affairs or bold initiatives to expose corruption in the public and private sectors. Standards of journalism continue to slide because of weak editorial leadership and poor professional training.
readmore Nurul Izzah anwar In search of a better Malaysia
