opinion

The defacto law minister, he of the putative thesis, has announced new missiles to be launched at the windmills of cyberspace. These terrible weapons are said to be infallible.

There has been some official frustration with the earlier models, which not only failed to demolish their target, but tended to turn tail and return to tarnish the reputation of the tyro techno-warriors.

While the battle is more sharply defined, and it may be seen that there is some imbalance in the disposition of resources. One is reminded of other Southeast Asian conflicts, in which the might and modern armaments of the ground holder are pitted against the guerilla tactics of the lightly armed, yet more nimble forces of the challenger.

The scene of combat has been elevated to the boundless and more indefensible, terrain of cyberspace. It is all imaginary, supported much as a computer game is, by the entertaining new technology. The difficulty with the party-in-power is that they tend to take it all seriously.

Technological book burning

The duties of the 'law' minister are being more clearly defined. He has in his portfolio the impending new attack on the Internet, specifically offensive websites.

He intends to eradicate from cyberspace selected sites of his choosing, which may be regarded as more than a slight by the owner/webmaster. It suggests a technological book burning. There was a similar position in the Third Reich, another authoritarian regime.

The good minister is poorly qualified to initiate a cyberwar. The good minister begins to appear as the local minister of disinformation, engaged more in the mis-interpretation of the law than in its implementation.

Careful scrutiny of his language allows computer comparison with his printed thesis, and it is easy to surmise that there are other hands which held the pen. His subsequent disavowal of parentage of the work is thus facilitated, there being no apparent family connection.

The mis-use of the printed and electronic media is the dictatorial choice of the past. The use of similar methods to control communication and news will fail in the new age, a point the government ministers seem incapable of grasping.

The number of websites far exceeds any capability for destroying them, and they can be cloned, mirrored and re-established much faster than they can be identified and attacked.

Declare an immediate truce

The minister might consider the case of the software developed to make transfer of CDs possible. When the court ordered this website to remove the offering, the software was quickly disseminated to over 1,500 new sites in a matter of hours. Such is the power of the Internet to thwart efforts to control content.

In spite of public statements that the new declaration of war is not censorship of the Internet, it is difficult to avoid this conclusion.

How else is it to be regarded? If this is to be a declaration of war, the foreseeable consequences are dire. The ability of independent computer owners to retaliate is enormous, ranging from boycotting firms who use electronic components manufactured in Malaysia, to actual removal of all government websites.

The entire Malaysian IT structure is vulnerable, and an immediate truce is in the best interests of the party-in-power.

Should the attack on students continue, and the Internal Security Act prisoners not be released, there is a possibility of cyber attacks by young engineers alienated by the oppressive tactics being used. Other IT facilities are equally exposed. The party-in-power is not prepared for any active confrontation on the cyberfront.

Let the good minister take note.

HARUN RASHID is a scientist avidly interested in the application of Islamic principles in international affairs. The promotion of goodwill through civilisational dialogue motivates his writing. His Worldview column is a personal analysis of Malaysian affairs from a global perspective.