KUALA LUMPUR: With five years left to achieving Vision 2020, Malaysia has yet to mature although there is still room and opportunity to achieve democratic ideals, said student activist Fahmi Zainol.
"It is possible for a democratic culture in the country, to be fuelled by social media," said Fahmi in a report carried by astroawani.com.
Fahmi explained that Malaysia's young generation had a different way of thinking and were heading towards achieving a mature society, free from the shackles of emotions and sentiments that have affected many of the older generation.
Fahmi also said that social media and right-thinking politicians had to continue educating the public through rational thought and deeds.
"For example, leaders need to respond to people’s problems and not give silly excuses, twist facts, blame others or give it a racial twist."
The government may attempt to silence the voices of progressives but they cannot stop the wave of change as people today access information and communicate through social media, he said, adding, "There is no denying the role of social media in a democratic Malaysia."
According to Fahmi, the development of democracy in the country had been hampered by the politically inclined civil service and police, a flawed judicial system, bias by the politically controlled mass media and the many unsavoury politicians themselves.
Repressive laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and the Sedition Act also hindered the mission of realising Vision 2020 goals because these Acts only served to silence the people.
The laws keep the ruling government in power and it governs without hearing the people out. This goes against the practice of a healthy democracy, said Fahmi.
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