Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng advised the prime minister today to drop the 1 Malaysia free email account idea and spend the RM50 million on setting up free wi-fi hotspots nationwide instead.
The public will reject the email out of privacy and security concerns, the DAP secretary-general said when asked for his response to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s announcement yesterday that the government will roll out the free email programme to every citizen over 18 years of age from July onwards.
“I don’t think it’ll be very popular because No. 1, they are worried about privacy issues; and No. 2, they can get free email. Gmail, where there is security, enhanced security … you cannot break in, you know,” he told a press conference here today.
Lim reminded the PM that everyone is uneasy with the idea of having “Big Brother” monitoring their every move.
He noted that Internet users likely had more confidence using the free email accounts of service providers such as Google, which notably, quit China when the communist government tried to force its “Big Brother” policy on the service provider.
“Who will want to apply for a 1 Malaysia email account? Nobody. Nobody wants to apply because they fear being monitored,” he said.
“You want to tell some dirty joke also they will monitor. You want to whisper sweet nothings to your girlfriend or boyfriend also, everything will come out.
“You never know or may not care now, but 10 years down the road, if you become a politician, then habis-lah,” he joked.
“Remember, Big Brother is watching you,” he observed.
Lim pointed out there was no need for the federal government to spend RM50 million — even if it now claims the money will not come from public funds but to be borne by the private sector — when Malaysians have a wide selection of free email accounts offered by various service providers to choose from.
“I wonder why there’s a need to give people free email when we can get free emails from Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo! and many other service providers?” the chief minister questioned.
He suggested that the company, Tricubes Berhad, be licensed to provide free wi-fi hotspots instead.
“I suggest if it’s in the public interest, the government should provide free wi-fi hotspots. I think that’s what a lot of people want. That’s what Sarawakians wanted,” Lim said, in a sly dig at the just-ended Sarawak state election where the DAP doubled its share of state seats to a record 12.
