The proposed amendments to require registrations for blogs and portals will not affect those already operating in the open like news portal Malaysiakini, or bloggers who do not hide their identities like media doyen A Kadir Jasin or himself, says blogger Ahiruddin Attan.

"In my comments to the Asian Correspondent, I said the likes of Malaysiankini and Kadir have nothing to fear (or lose) in the unlikely event that the government makes registration compulsory," he wrote on his blog today.

Ahiruddin was referring to the proposed amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which will require people like Ahiruddin, who run blogs or political news portals, to register with the authorities.

"So what's new? The government has been talking about it for a decade now and it hasn't come anywhere near doing it. Talk, more talk, and talk some more, only. I suspect that the politicians themselves are not excited about the idea," he wrote.

Ahiruddin claimed that this is because some of the politicians themselves have many cybertroopers on their payroll to do their dirty work masked by online anonymity.

He added that it is they who are the ones who will end up the biggest losers if the government makes them all register.

"But Jebat Must Die, Annie, Lim Sian See and the Unspinners and those who blog anonymously and don't have to be fully accountable for what they write may feel victimised by the move," said the veteran newsman.

However, Ahiruddin said those blogging under cover of online anonymity can always take off their masks and boldly write as he has been doing.

But while anonymity will be at risk if the government requires registration, some quarters fear that it is a prelude to more stringent controls such as Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 which hangs like the sword of Damocles over the print media.

Civil society, journalist groups as well freedom of expression advocates have expressed fears that this is another measure that the government is taking to tighten its grip on the media and quelling voices of dissent.