COMMENT | A subscription to Malaysiakini buys you, among other things, the right to comment.

And what a precious right and privilege to have your opinion to be heard and read by more than just the limited field of subscribers.

It means, as a subscriber, you now have a voice that will be heard (or read) and you know that you are not alone in your thinking.

I think it would not be stretching the truth to say that had the previous government read and took action on the comments in Malaysiakini’s comments forum, the results of GE14 might have been different. Perhaps not much though.

Do comments matter?

As a commentator, one wonders if the comments are read by those in power or in decision-making capacity to modify or change policies affecting the rakyat.

Part of that question was answered by a Malaysiakini report on the tribunal that was going to be formed to remove members of the Election Commission (EC).

It was later reported that since all but one EC commissioner had resigned, the tribunal was being done away with.

In the latest article on Oct 23, a source quoted by Malaysiakini says that the tribunal would still go ahead and that cognisance had been taken of the comments by the online portal’s readers!

I think this is the highest recognition that can be given to the commentators on Malaysiakini and an acknowledgement that their comments do matter.

What makes a good comment?

But to be heard, there are some basic rules that must be followed before the people who it is directed at stand up and pay attention.

The comments must never be vulgar in their wordings or even alluding to vulgarity. That is common decency. You have the right to be disgusting, but that right ends where mine begins.

I buy a subscription to be informed and not to be offended.

Also, to get the attention of everyone, the comments ought to be inclusive.

All of us abhor bigoted and racist rantings (there have been a few) because it is base and reflects the upbringing of the individual.

To be effective, and to get attention, comments, I believe, must be inclusive.

A comment that targets one part of society can and is often viewed as being elitist or simply prejudiced.

While this may reflect the thinking of a very small minority, it will never gain much traction and, in many cases, receive brickbats from others.

The big picture

Finally, I think that if you want to be heard and have your opinions counted, one has to have the big picture in focus.

The question that one must ask is whether my comment or suggestion is acceptable to the wants and needs of the many, or is it pandering to the prevailing herd mentality?

One may have a personal view on a subject, but is it fair to impose it on others?

We came together as one when we booted out the old regime.

We forgot and forgave our differences and got together to tell the former rulers “Enough is enough!” and showed them the door.

And it appears that the power to install and remove corrupt leadership is back with the people.

And with that power, comes responsibility.

Indeed, the keyboard is mightier than all the repressive laws and machinations of an evil empire.

Let’s use the comments section in Malaysiakini to get the message through to the newly elected representatives. And some of us even have the ability to entertain and educate at the same time!

Well done, my fellow commentators.

COGITO ERGO SUM is a Malaysiakini subscriber. We have allowed a pseudonym for the above comment piece as it is the same one the writer uses when commentating on Malaysiakini articles.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.