A study on the role and influence of the Internet and especially blogs found no concrete evidence that those who read blogs regularly were inclined to sympathise with opposition parties.
The study Peranan dan Pengaruh Internet dan Kewartawanan Bloggers Terhadap Pengundi Semasa Pilihan Raya Umum Malaysia 2008 (The Role and Influence of the Internet and Journalistic Bloggers on Voters during the 2008 General Election) was conducted by Prof Madya Dr Baharuddin Aziz, Dr Rahmat Ghazali and Dr Abd Rasid Abd Rahman from Universiti Teknologi Mara's Communications and Media Studies Faculty.
About 80% of respondents were aware of blogs, which were popular with the middle class and below.
"After making the cross matching, we found that there was no strong evidence that supports the notion that the Internet content had moved people to vote for the opposition," Dr Baharuddin told Bernama here recently.
He said many newspaper readers and television viewers had also switched to supporting the opposition in the March 8 polls.
The one-month study also found that banners, posters and pamphlets played a crucial role in swaying voters' sentiment for the opposition.
The study conducted on 1,100 voters in four zones -- north (28%), south (22%), east coast (19%) and central (31%) used the stratified group sampling method.
Future elections
Dr Baharuddin said "digital media warfare" and the preference of the younger generation should be given serious thought, particularly with the presence of 1.8 million fresh voters for the next election in 2012 or 2013.
Mobile TV and handphone networks are also expected to play a major role.
"We cannot deny that the digital divide still exists in the country, but we can no longer sweep aside the role of new media.
"During the Ijok and Machap by-elections, bloggers were already active but their impact was insignificant, unlike what happened during the 2008 general election," he said.
Barisan Nasional was at the receiving end as it failed to adequately address issues raised.
"For example, on Feb 13, newspaper front-page reports were not only on the dissolution of Parliament but also on judiciary issues," he said.
Dr Baharuddin said a weak approach did not clarify sensitive issues, causing the public to switch to reading blogs for further clarification, which ultimately had a detrimental effect on the ruling coalition. -- Bernama
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