Wider Internet access weakens BN’s grip
By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider
PKR urged today the state government to widen its Internet access statewide to weaken the ruling coalition’s grip on the state.
Seri Setia Assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad emphasised the importance of the Internet, as a political weapon to fight Barisan Nasional’s (BN) influence in rural areas, during the state assembly.
“The Internet now plays an important role, especially to the younger generation, who are used to blogs, Facebook, Twitter and mobile Internet gadgets such as Blackberry, iPhone, and others.
“I share the same concern as Bukit Antarabangsa Assemblyman Azmin Ali on the status of the hybrid wireless infrastructure network (HYWIN) project in Selangor,” the PKR man said.
The party’s communications director even proposed to have state executive councillors who are not using such technology, to have their salaries cut.
“We see a clash between the new media and the old politics in Malaysia since the citizens are sick of the party and racial propaganda that have been played out in the media, such as Utusan Malaysia and TV3, as mentioned by the Sekinchan assemblyman.
“So it is not surprising, if we look at the Internet access map in Selangor and the 2008 general election results, the higher the Internet penetration, the weaker the BN’s influence,” he pointed out.
Nik Nazmi pushed further and said while waiting for HYWIN to roll out Internet services throughout the state within five years, he said the state government should have mobile and stationary Internet kiosks at community halls in rural areas.
“This might threaten BN’s future in those areas, but more importantly, we can overcome the digital divide and give a better chance to the citizens residing in rural areas,” he said.
