In this world of technology, the new media are taking control of everything we do. New media is a phenomenon that is very important and plays an important role in humans’ life. New media are the cultural objects which use digital computer technology for distribution and exhibition. For example the new media for now are the Internet, Web sites, computer multimedia, and others. New media can keep changing and the term can change in maybe a few years more. In fact, new media, mainly the Internet, is said to be a medium that can bring harm to social harmony. Is it true that something that brings us so much help will bring us harm too? For me it depends on how people interpret and use the media itself. We cannot blame the media as it only doing its job that people telling them to do.

The new media is a tool that can be used positively and negatively. Just as it has enabled multiple sources of information, it has also brought along potential social ills and potent threats, including disseminating hate and terrorism on the net. The net has also been used to spread extreme and violent ideologies. We know that terrorists too are using the net as a tool to promote their ideologies of hatred. As community leaders, we need to be watchful and foster a vigilant online community. Together, we need to send a strong and clear message, that we will not tolerate those who intend to incite disharmony and threaten our peace and stability, be it the real or virtual world. That is why we prosecuted three bloggers in 2007 under the Sedition Act. Anonymity is an illusion in cyberspace. Let me say categorically that we will not hesitate to do so again if need be. However, we should also remember that the new media as a tool is neutral. It can and should be used to counter divisive and false ideologies.

The creation of blog is really something that has been debated for about quite some time. Blogs allowed people to express their thoughts and share their minds with each other. In Malaysia, we do not really have the freedom of speech in a sense of Malaysians’ sensitivity. We cannot really touch the issues of religion and race. By blogging, people can write something that cannot be published in mainstream media and plus blogging does not require ethics in their writing. It is just not only writing but also videos. These people mainly talking about government and racism. These people do not make long thoughts before uploading anything that can lead to social disharmony. In addition, people can always change their identity and it is hard to discover who the real culprit is.

What we have to do to protect our social harmony. Chairman of OnePeople.sg Zainudin Nordin said three approaches have to be adopted in order to meet the challenges of the new media.

Zainudin is also the Central Singapore CDC Mayor and the MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. He said that, firstly it is important to raise awareness among the people, and pay more attention to educating the public on this aspect so that they can understand the responsibility one has to shoulder when one is on the Internet.

Secondly, the law has to make it clear that those who use the Internet to cause harm or national instability will not go away unpunished.

Thirdly, the whole community ought to be equipped with the correct values and gradually armed with the capability to discern between what is right or wrong in the Internet so that a mechanism will be established to naturally weed out incorrect information or remarks.

To conclude, it is absolutely agreeable that absolute freedom will lead to harming the social harmony. We have to really know our boundaries in expressing our mind in a sense of respect to other people and live in harmony.

lots of works.........please be strong.....
gudluck to all classmates.........