YOURSAY 'Mahathir, you must understand one thing - the Malaysian public have the same rights as you do to speak their mind.'

Dr M: Unbridled freedom of alternative media harmful

Pemuda Tua: Don't decry the alternative media, Dr Mahathir Mohamad. If the current government has given sufficient room for the rakyat to express their views through the existing licensed media (newspaper, TV, radio, etc), then we don't need the alternative media on the Internet.

That's why Bersih's demand on fair access to the mainstream media must be fulfilled by Umno-BN.

And yet, you controlled everything. Your reports are biased in favour of just Umno-BN, but you still want to complain about alternative media. There is clear evidence that you want to stop the rakyat from criticising the government.

Gibran: There is nothing wrong with the alternative media. At least it has given us some freedom of expression. What is really wrong is when a government controls the media. Umno is authoritarian, and it is time for us to be rid of it.

Black Mamba: Similarly, it can be said that the unbridled freedom of the mainstream media (MSM) can be harmful. Just look at how Utusan Malaysia spins their news.

Time and time again, it had been hauled up by the High Court and fined repeatedly for defamation and publishing misleading information, but nothing has stopped it from spewing its untruths so far.

Just leave it to the readers of the MSM and alternative news, as they are discerning enough to separate the chaff from the wheat of information.

Starr: Mahathir, who are you to determine and detect what levels of freedom and democracy that a country should have?

The freedom and democracy as prescribed in the constitution has already been determined by the founding fathers, you are just 'reinventing the wheel' to suit your political agenda. The rakyat will have none of your views, please keep them to yourself.

As Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said, you are a man of the bygone era who is irrelevant in today's politics.

Anonymous_3e46: The way to life is found not by suppressing the truth, but by confronting it.

Anonymous #02382443: Mahathir may be correct to some extent, but if you look at it from a different perspective, you would have understood the writers' frustration in using such fouled or uncivilised language.

As for the spins, what's the problem when the MSM have been doing likewise all the time? What is good for the goose should be good for the gander.

Fair&Just: Thank God for the alternative media. Without it, we would not have known the many bailouts using Petronas' money, your son as San Miguel director, the Sabah royal commission of inquiry (RCI), the truth of Ops Lalang, Proton's non-viability, the massive illegal funds outflow, Biro Tatanegara (BTN, or National Civics Bureau), cronyism in the government, and so on.

Some of us still view you with respect because of the lies and spins in the MSM. Now much of that respect has turned to condemnation, thanks to the alternative media.

Ksn: So the derogatory comments about you - I am referring to those in the Malaysiakini forums - are finally getting to you?

But do not panic or go into depression - if you are not already in - because they are most fitting, appropriate and truthful about you and the abuses of funds and laws that you have inflicted onto our people and Malaysia.

More of those will come your way after the soon-to-be-held GE13. Meanwhile, do stay healthy to face your future punishments.

Apa Nama: Mahathir, you must understand one thing - the Malaysian public have the same rights as you do to speak their mind. They are allowed to criticise your blog postings as much as you have the right to write them.

This is what we call the freedom of expression. About the lies and such as you claimed, we have laws to tackle that, please do not worry so much about it.

Mahashitla: Mahathir, if you think the 30,000 people at the Chinese New Year concert in Penang were there because of BN and not K-pop singer Psy, then you should come to Penang to give your ceramah to gauge BN's popularity.

Why only talk to Malay-dominated Felda. Penang people will not disrupt BN ceramah, unlike what Umno did to PAS/PKR ceramah in Felda areas.

P Dev Anand Pillai: Dear Mahathir, this is the only way we can beat the media system that has become the nation's propaganda tool, which you had allowed during your two decades in power.

Ultimately, the people would have to be the arbitrators of this freedom we are experiencing now.

Society would have to mature to be able to digest information of this sort and we would have to dissect it with care. Brace this change and support the man whom you kicked out before.

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