The Malaysian general election on 8 March 2008 is seen by many observers as a turning point in the political history of the country, and one in which the internet and other communication technologies like the mobile phone played a crucial role. Indeed, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi himself admitted after the severe set-back for his Barisan Nasional coalition at the elections that the "biggest mistake" he made was ignoring the internet. The remark was particularly significant in the light of the government’s pillorying of bloggers in the run up to the polls. None other than then-Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin declared four weeks before the nation voted that "blogs don’t worry me." But what exactly was the role that the internet played, and how did it change the results? And what, are the lessons that the Malaysian experience holds for Singapore? It is with these questions in mind that IPS has decided to hold a roundtable on the topic "Impact of ICTs on the Malaysian Elections - Lessons for Singapore." Bloggers, politicians, activists and media players have been invited to speak about the subject.

Steven GAN is the editor-in-chief for Malaysiakini, the famous online news website. On the day of the election, the website received 3 million hits from voters who sought blow by blow accounts of the polling results.

HARIS Ibrahim is a social activist outspoken on issues such as corruption. His blog is at http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/

AHIRUDIN Attan is a well-known blogger in Malaysia, and heads the National Alliance of Bloggers, which seeks to protect the interests of bloggers. Last year, he and Jeff Ooi were sued by the New Straits Times Press over ‘libellous postings’ on the Internet. His blog is at http://rockybru.blogspot.com/. He is also Adviser to the Nation Press Club of Malaysia.

Nathaniel TAN is a blogger and book editor and was the internet strategist for Anwar Ibrahim's Parti Keadilan Rakyat during the election. On 13th July 2007, he was detained for five days by the police over a contentious comment he allowed on his blog, http://jelas.info/.

Jeff OOI is a blogger turned politician. He contested as an Opposition Democratic Action Party candidate in the 2008 election and won. He and blogger, Ahirudin Attan were sued by the New Straits Times Press over ‘libellous postings’ on the internet. His blog is at http://www.jeffooi.com/

Steven Gan. 2008. The Political Tsunami and the Internet.

Haris Ibrahim. 2008. A Sleeping Giant Awakened.

Ahirudin Atan. 2008. New Media in 21st Century Malaysia.

Nathaniel Tan. 2008. "I Not Stupid".

Jeff Ooi. 2008. Jelutong and the quest for "JEFF"

For more information, please contact Ms Karen Chan: