3 The Struggle for Digital Freedom of Speech
The Malaysian Sociopolitical Blogosphere ’ s Experience
Vee Vian Thien
Beginning in July 2008, sodomy was featured in most Malaysian sociopolitical blogs
and the headlines of Malaysian dailies for several months — a curious phenomenon
given that a majority of Malaysians are either deeply religious or morally conservative,
or a combination of both. Also, sodomy is a criminal offense in at least 78 countries
including Malaysia.
1 The media interest was inspired by the unique identifi cation of
sodomy with the political career of a single man, Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar was charged
with the offense once in 1998 when he held offi ce as deputy prime minister of Malaysia, and again in 2008, as de facto leader of the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat
(PR). The timing of both trials could not be more signifi cant. In 1998, the global
spotlight was on Malaysia as host of the 1998 Commonwealth Games and for its
upcoming 1999 general elections in the midst of the Asian fi nancial crisis. On March
8, 2008, Anwar led PR to a new political dawn as a meaningful adversary to the ruling
regime, Barisan Nasional (BN), in the 12th Malaysian general elections. For the fi rst
time in Malaysian history, PR stripped BN of its two-thirds majority in the federal
parliament.
2
The thriving, vibrant, and active Malaysian political blogosphere in its current form
owes much to the Anwar sodomy saga. First, Anwar ’ s trial attracted severe domestic
and international criticism, which in combination with the Asian fi nancial crisis
created a hostile political atmosphere prior to the 1999 elections for his former mentor,
the incumbent prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Mahathir responded by pledging to boost Internet penetration in Malaysia through a series of programs.
3 Cumulatively, these programs effected changes necessary for the development of the Malaysian
sociopolitical blogosphere. They laid the requisite physical infrastructure for access to
broadband connection, that is, high-speed fi ber-optic wires and ISPs, and trained a
generation of “ digital natives. ”
4
Second, Anwar ’ s swift coup-style removal from high political offi ce stunned Malaysians into action. In 1998, they formed Reformasi, a grassroots movement protesting
his dismal record that united disparate segments of civil society for the fi rst time. This
relatively diffuse, single-issue movement transformed into PR, a formidable opponent
The Malaysian Sociopolitical Blogosphere ’ s Experience
Vee Vian Thien
Beginning in July 2008, sodomy was featured in most Malaysian sociopolitical blogs
and the headlines of Malaysian dailies for several months — a curious phenomenon
given that a majority of Malaysians are either deeply religious or morally conservative,
or a combination of both. Also, sodomy is a criminal offense in at least 78 countries
including Malaysia.
1 The media interest was inspired by the unique identifi cation of
sodomy with the political career of a single man, Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar was charged
with the offense once in 1998 when he held offi ce as deputy prime minister of Malaysia, and again in 2008, as de facto leader of the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat
(PR). The timing of both trials could not be more signifi cant. In 1998, the global
spotlight was on Malaysia as host of the 1998 Commonwealth Games and for its
upcoming 1999 general elections in the midst of the Asian fi nancial crisis. On March
8, 2008, Anwar led PR to a new political dawn as a meaningful adversary to the ruling
regime, Barisan Nasional (BN), in the 12th Malaysian general elections. For the fi rst
time in Malaysian history, PR stripped BN of its two-thirds majority in the federal
parliament.
2
The thriving, vibrant, and active Malaysian political blogosphere in its current form
owes much to the Anwar sodomy saga. First, Anwar ’ s trial attracted severe domestic
and international criticism, which in combination with the Asian fi nancial crisis
created a hostile political atmosphere prior to the 1999 elections for his former mentor,
the incumbent prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Mahathir responded by pledging to boost Internet penetration in Malaysia through a series of programs.
3 Cumulatively, these programs effected changes necessary for the development of the Malaysian
sociopolitical blogosphere. They laid the requisite physical infrastructure for access to
broadband connection, that is, high-speed fi ber-optic wires and ISPs, and trained a
generation of “ digital natives. ”
4
Second, Anwar ’ s swift coup-style removal from high political offi ce stunned Malaysians into action. In 1998, they formed Reformasi, a grassroots movement protesting
his dismal record that united disparate segments of civil society for the fi rst time. This
relatively diffuse, single-issue movement transformed into PR, a formidable opponent