INTERNET IS USEFUL FOR MAKING THE TRUTH KNOWN, SAYS DR MAHATHIR

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 (Bernama)-- Although the Internet, particularly blogs,
could be used to frighten people and create panic, but it was also useful for
making the truth known, said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said the knowledge that could be accessed through the Internet was
limitless, but like all things available to mankind, knowledge and its
acquisition could be for good or evil.

"The blogs for example can be used to demonize people, scare them and create
panic. The SMS (Short Message System) can be used for similar purposes.

"But we know how useful they can be for making the truth known and for
individuals to air their views and feelings freely," he said in his speech at
the inaugural launch of OSDC.MY and Open Source Industry Global Linkage here,
Monday.

Tun Mahathir said during his premiership he was told that there was no
secrecy in the Internet and since the government was using it a lot, he had
suggested that the country should develop its own operating system.

"I think a lot of computer savvy government staff tried hard but got
nowhere. There apparently is no bypassing the internet," he said.

Dr Mahathir said South Korea had the biggest percentage of people who were
computer savvy and had trained a huge member of IT (Information Technology)
engineers.

He said under the Look East policy, Malaysia now have a number of youngsters
studying engineering in Korea.

Dr Mahathir said one of them had recently topped the class despite having
to listen to lectures in Korean but reading textbooks in English.

"When I asked the girl who topped the class, she had a simple answer,
'Malaysia Boleh'," he said.

--BERNAMA