Internet's net result on election results

HUB OF DISCOURSE: Will the Internet make as big an impact in the next general election as it did the last time? Arman Ahmad speaks to three experts

However, Azizuddin said: "Traditional media still has a significant impact in influencing people's voting trend in the general election, especially for rural folk who have less access to the new media."

Arman Ahmad, New Straits Times

AS the 13th general election draws closer, the battle for the hearts and minds of voters is heating up. The ruling party and opposition blogs and websites are abuzz with activity, working hard at spreading their ideas.

The Internet is widely credited for the opposition's gains during the last general election. This time around, however, both sides seem equally matched in terms of online presence.

But how far will the Internet affect the outcome of the next election?

Experts said what people saw and read on the Internet would influence their opinions. However, they added, people would still vote based on other factors.

"People don't vote based on what they read on the Internet," said Julian Hopkins, communications lecturer at Monash University. Instead, he said, people voted based on what they experienced in life.

The election results will be mostly influenced by what people think about the government, and the direction the country is going.

Issues about corruption, inequality and trust in the government are determining factors.

People vote, firstly, based on what they experience, and secondly, on what they read.

However, Hopkins said, the Internet could reinforce voters' perception formed from experiences.

"The Internet may help amplify their feelings."

This sentiment was echoed by Dr Abubakar Eby Hara, senior lecturer at the School of International Studies, College of Law, Government and International studies, at Universiti Utara Malaysia.

He said the Internet was not a game- changer in politics.

"It is only a medium to promote change or maintain the status quo."

Hopkins said this time around, blogs would be less influential as social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, had become more prominent.

"People see their friends talk about the same issue, for example, (the) Bersih (gathering).

"People will link videos (of the event) to their friends. They talk there and they can see other people's opinions.

"They have an information source and discussion there."

These sites have become the hub of social discourse and opinion, and are powerful mediums for change.

"By referring to the Arab Spring, the Internet has transformed people's perceptions and opinions quickly," said Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, dean of International Studies at Universiti Utara Malaysia.

"It is the same all over the world. The Internet is trendy; cheap, sometimes free; available; and easy to access.

"Actually, the technology of smartphones has transformed global society. Access to information becomes crucial and easy.

"(French philosopher) Michel Foucault says knowledge is power. For me, information is power, nowadays."

He said the Internet was becoming a tool for democratisation.

"Everywhere, including China, the Internet is seen as the tool for democratisation, even though the reality is that it can also create anarchy and can be dangerous for national security if a state depends too much on information technology."

Today, politicians are more Internet savvy than ever before, and the Internet has become a prerequisite for many aspiring politicians to reach their audience.

Azizuddin said United States President Barack Obama was the best example of a leader who engaged people via the Internet.

"In fact, he garnered support and funds via the Internet for his 2008 election. The same approach was taken by the Malaysian opposition to reach out to youths and urbanites during the last general election."

Closer to home, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has a strong online presence as well.

Abubakar said Najib had became more liked because of his online presence, and his efforts to engage people via Twitter and Facebook had shown results.

"It is a good effort to inform people about his programmes and I think it is effective and he is popular."

Azizuddin said it would be great if Najib could have an online debate with his supporters and critics, similar to US presidential debates.

Hopkins said under Najib's leadership, the government had tried to increase its voice online through direct and indirect means.

The New Media Unit of Umno Youth said it had trained more than 1,800 people in the use of social media.

However, Hopkins said they should not overestimate results.

However, Azizuddin said: "Traditional media still has a significant impact in influencing people's voting trend in the general election, especially for rural folk who have less access to the new media."

He added that traditional media would survive and would continue to be the source of information for people.

He said traditional or mainstream media should adopt a new approach in terms of reporting and editing to stay relevant.

"The issue is about credibility. Malaysians now are mature and intelligent enough to analyse news."

The plus point for new media, he said, was that news on the Internet was convenient and easy to access.

"It is not so much about balanced news reporting but also about access to a variety of news and information.

"The Internet or new media has opened the public sphere for people to get, spread and debate the information.

"All this information will influence their decision on which party they will vote, for instance."

Abubakar said while the traditional media was important, it had become less important in the face of news that could be obtained via the Internet.

He said people also used the Internet to compare news.

Hopkins said what was most important was that people should get unbiased stories from both sides and decide for themselves.

Abubakar said people often said Malaysians were immature and did not understand (what was in their best interest).

"That is just a way to dismiss expectations.

"Malaysians are just as able as anyone else to understand what is in their best interest."

"They have very high online presence on Facebook and Twitter. They are educated and have good access to the Internet."