Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Manek Urai: To Blog or not to Blog, that is the question for UMNO


Play this video as you read this posting

I was surfing this morning and about ready to blog about an issue but stumbled into this posting by Cucu Tok Selampit here.

He was talking about PAS negative campaigning on the Internet. I am wondering whether UMNO has prepared or done anything about it.

In a tough fight to crawl up, the inches are everywhere to make the differences between winning and losing. Does not UMNO campaigner realised the need to answer the Interney attack?

Cucu Tok Selampit highlighted that PAS has already began a negative campaigning on BN's announced candidate Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat, the Ketua Pemuda for Kuala Krai.

Malaysiakini cleverly exposed allegation of corruption and unaccountable opulent lifestyle of candidate but used Tuan Aziz's denial as introductory piece. Subsequently, it flourish to blog posting like this here.

My friend, Bakaq of Penarik Beca already put up stories of cah keting within UMNO Kuala Krai from the Malaysiakini report. Bakaq is one of the prominent blogger promoted by blogger Shieh of Kickdefella during the "Blogger United revolution" of 2007 reacting to the lawsuit by New Straits Times against Rocky Bru and Jeff Ooi.

Let me not deny that the clash of UMNO warlords at Kuala Krai is legendary. UMNO Information Chief, Dato Ahmad Maslan can't blame me doing a cah keting on UMNO. I am nt quite sure now. Last heard was none.

Finally, Cucu Tok Selampit linked a subtle posting here on the responsibility of a Wakil Rakyat.

PAS has already put up several blogs dedicated to Manek Urai and all I see on Penggabung Suara, a prominent pro-UMNO Blog Aggregator is two personal initiatives blogs, both named Bicara Manek Urai but one run by a panelist of bloggers and another by Piggy Singh.

The blogs serve their own specific clientele of readers. The two of them can't be sufficiently effective. It is not regularly updated or minimal campaign communicative value. Others is needed to compliment them.

UMNO did not do too bad though. PAS also has two blogs dedicated to Manek Urai here and here.

Nevertheless, the fact is PAS and Pakatan Rakyat has more bloggers campaigning for Manek Urai. For that one pro-UMNO dedicated Aggregator, Penggabung Suara with 422 urls, PAS has several Blog Aggregators - Malaysiakita, Malaysiakita (BM), No2UMNO, and others not known. Its scary to add the list of url there.

There are two Kelantan Blog Aggregators dedicated for Kelantan - Direktori Bloggers Kelantan (469 url) and Kelantan Bloggers (235 url). Although it is not dedicated to Socio-Politics, the opposition and pro-opposition bloggers already made their presence there but too few pro-UMNO bloggers.

Basically PAS and Pakatan Rakyat have got their communication message and propaganda online. UMNO have yet to get started.

The so-called pro-UMNO bloggers on Penggabung Suara include current and former journolist and writers. They may not be quite you call pro-UMNO for they may take an independent stand.

Perhaps UMNO feel Internet and cyber campaign is not quite relevent for rural Manek Urai. The number of urban-based Manek Urai voters may not be that significant.

Remember that those few urban returning, educated and Internet savvy voters have an influencing effect on the opinion of their kinfolks. The Internet updated urban PAS campaigner going there will have some familiarity with Manek Urai to do their work. So Internet have it's limited role.

The real game is made on the ground. The direct contact between candidate and campaigners with voters, speaking directly to them, and winning their hearts is where it really matters.

The thing is this. UMNO have acknowledged new media but if they decide to abandon new media and not try out in Manek Urai, it will be lost opportunity to get on the learning curve.

There are sufficient number of experianced UMNO cyber players to lead UMNO's presence on the Internet. Unfortunately, they are not acknowledged and brought in the planning and organisation. They are merely sought after for views but not given leading and key roles.

Those leading the various teams and efforts to establshed UMNO's Internet presence are not players. It would not be a surprise that some can't open an e-mail, let alone have their own blog.

It is certainly difficult for this establshed players to work under novice commanders who will not earn their respect.

All this leads to UMNO's seriousness to actually engage in the new media. The new media maybe the tail end population of the communication demography but here lies the few million critical new young voters. UMNO leadership is aware of this.

But the problem is they are likely set in their old ways of doing things. The way is usually bureaucratic and it will not work with the cyber activist. They may have not realised, but their acknowledgement of new media is turning out to rhetorical.

To blog or not to Blog, that is the question for UMNO. But this blogger will soldier on.

10 comments:

antubiul said...

Lazy to read your article. COnclusion:-

UMNO wating time in Manek especially whenever KJ is involve.
Conclusion" PAS will retain Manek. You bloggers dont have to write about Manek the result is well known ahead. UMNO never learnt.PRU13 will be PRU for PR!

Goh Wei Liang said...

A Voice, if the strategy is just to go online, that is not a wise move in Manek Urai.

Not everyone there is tech savvy. UMNO can of course set up a blog for "Non Manek Urai-ians".

Many bloggers who are not in Manek Urai are already demonizing BN. However, the final decision lies in the hands of Manek Urai-ians.

UMNO must go to the ground in public areas like markets, shops, malls, coffeeshops and listen to the people.

UMNO's presence must be felt. May the best be with Barisan Nasional.

Anonymous said...

Thats why we need KJ bro. He can do it, with the support.

Anonymous said...

Kalau KJ datang, jawabnye UMNO pade dah!

Nevada said...

the saluran 1 voters of manik urai are IT savvy and they do read blogs, mind u. some of the folks who offer the house for rent during incoming bi-election do specifically mentioned that their house are 'connected'.

it also common to hear political reviews and commentaries at many of kedai kopi in kelantan that based on the info obtained from blogs (u can easily recognise any 'news' derived from newspapers and blogs, mind u)

so, do not underestimate the role of internet news to manek urai voters.

they are not DARAT.

nightcaller said...

No pro-UMNO bloggers? You must be kidding!

What about the many bloggers who are now heads of MSM? Are they not bloggers? Or more precisely, are they not pro-UMNO bloggers?

Expand it a little. What about those "special" bloggers who got the invitation from Rais "I burn the bridge" Yatim for dinner in Sri Melayu few months back? Minus one or two, are they not pro-UMNO bloggers?

Moral of story : UMNO has enough pro-UMNO bloggers. It is a matter whether they want to hit the ground or not. Maybe another "dinner" with Rais will do the trick, eh?

Admin CCZ said...

I'm also ready to fight with them. tapi beza antara kita dan mereka. yang banyak sangat blog pembangkang sbb bagi mereka senang saja tulis itu ini, maki sana sini tapi fakta hancuss..yang sedap abaca carut saja lebih. kebenaran dpn mata tak nak terima.

Alizul said...

It seems that UMNO's level of understanding of internet/blogging is still "primitive". I remember reading a blog recently (can't recall the name) which pointed out that certain UMNO Division members in Pahang don't even know what a blog mean!!! This may be reflective of the situation throughout the country, though I don't have the statistics.

The only alternative is to go to the ground, as Goh Wei Liang pointed out. But how many (those that can make a difference) do really go there? True, there are already UMNO teams in Manek Urai, but are they using the correct strategies? Are they really (i.e. genuinely) talking (and listening) to the people? Are there people in the teams who can make the crucial difference?

PARPUKARI said...

ADEH SEBUT NAMA KJ JE, LEMAH LUTUT DEN....ANYWAY BRO VOICE, U HAVE TAKEN THE WORD RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH LA BRO!

TQ BRO FOR AT LEAST UNDERTSANDING!

GANG ANAK OMAK IS BLAMING ME AS A LIABILITY BLOGGER! HE HE HE

WHO IS ACTUALLY A LIABILITY EH? IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!

Anonymous said...

chronometer and Download Movies at vanquish prominence locality on the reticule an eye to today !
[url=http://vidbar.tv]free movies[/url]
Rescue Movies, Games, Videos online database community - Make Let go movies Online, Download Movies and games instead of Without charge, Join largest DB community - vidbar.tv Emancipated games, Honest Movies, Notice Movies online and put cooperate games online after cost-free
[url=http://vidbar.tv]online movies[/url]
[url=http://vidbar.tv]free games online[/url]
[url=http://vidbar.tv]movies online for free[/url]
[url=http://vidbar.tv]watch movie[/url]
[url=http://vidbar.tv]watch free movies[/url]

Newest Movies here [url=http://vidbar.tv]Watch movies[/url] or you can [url=http://vidbar.tv]Download movies[/url] instantly
[url=http://vidbar.tv]free movies[/url]
[url=http://vidbar.tv]play games[/url]
[url=http://vidbar.tv]movies online for free[/url]
[url=http://vidbar.tv]free movies[/url]

[url=http://vidbar.tv]Watch movies online[/url]
http://vidbar.tv - watch movies, free movies, free movies online, watch movies online - http://vidbar.tv

My Say