Delegates want tighter rules on blogging

(The Star) – SEVERAL speakers at the Umno Youth general assembly today are expected to call for tighter rules to govern the activities of bloggers, particularly socio-political bloggers in the country.

The issue, according to a spokesman, would be raised when debating the resolution on religion and education.

The consensus among Umno Youth delegates, he said, was that too much freedom was given to these bloggers to the point of it being detrimental to the religious and racial harmony in the country.

“The people are becoming more divided, all because of the hurtful statements posted through the many political blogs,” he said.

Besides blogs, he said, many delegates are also expected to touch on the Bar Council, which in the minds of many, had allowed itself to become a vehicle championing the causes of opposition parties and the foreign agenda.

The movement, he said, felt that the Bar Council had overstepped its role when it began to question matters relating to Islam and the promotion of Islam in the country.

“There seems to be a concerted effort on the part of the Bar Council to raise issues relating to Islam, including lately the decision to ban the use of the word Allah by Christian publications,” he added.

Youth delegates, he said, would also be expected to touch extensively on Malay rights and royalty, two issues which have been in the news following the Perak crisis.

Other issues that would be raised, he said, included the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) and the controversial keris debacle.

In Umno Youth, he said, PPSMI was not really an issue although quite a few were expected to voice their reservations.

“In general, we understand the need for PPSMI and have full trust in Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to tackle the issue with wisdom,” he added.