Malaysian Candidates Required to Have Blogs

Pioneer Woman writes "Abdul Rahman Dahlan, secretary general of the United Malays National Organization party's youth wing, said all those vying for national youth posts must have blogs to introduce themselves and their programs ahead of party elections in December. The decision appeared aimed at countering heavy losses that the ruling National Front coalition suffered in last month's general elections. In a country where mainstream media is tightly controlled by the government they underestimated the power of online campaigning. In the past, party politicians have said bloggers spread lies and rumors but now even youth deputy Khairy Jamaluddin — who once compared bloggers to monkeys living by the law of the jungle — has a blog."

Bloggers are leaders.

[baudilus]

From the article:

"All candidates must have blogs," Abdul Rahman told The Associated Press. "If not, they are not qualified to be leaders."
...
"He said help will be available for party members who do not know how to create a blog."

I was almost able to read that with a straight face.

This is like saying that everyone that wants a driver's license must have a cell phone. If not, they are not qualified to drive a vehicle.

I understand that the party believes the internet to be a key factor in their elections, but what does one have to do with the other?

George Bush doesn't have a bl . . . oh wait.

Blog doesn't mean what it used to

[billtom]

I think that this is just a case where the term blog doesn't mean what it used to. In the past, a blog used to be a personal, fairly frequent journal. Now it just means any sort of at least semi-regular postings.

I mean these days a company can take what they used to call their press release archive and call it a blog. Heck, by the current definition of the term, /. is a blog.

So all this Malaysian thing has nothing to do with blogging (in the original sense of the word) gaining any mindshare. All that is is really saying is that Malaysian politicians are required to put their position papers and general propaganda online. Unfortunately, no serious politician, Malaysian or otherwise, is really going to put their unedited musings online.

Turncoats

[Anonymous Coward]

but now even youth deputy Khairy Jamaluddin - who once compared bloggers to monkeys living by the law of the jungle - has a blog

This, sadly, tells you all you need to know about politicians.

Re:Bloggers are leaders.

[Otter]

One who can not reach the youth is not qualified to lead a country.

The people affected by this aren't running to lead Malaysia (and eventually be assaulted by Derek Zoolander). It's roughly equivalent to the Young Republicans or College Democrats adopting such a policy.

Re:Youth Deputy Troy McClure

[Anonymous Coward]

Someone really needs to make a Fake Troy McClure blog.