SMS: Lack of dialogue makes people gullible
Malaysiakini
Nov 9, 2006
Wong Yeen Fern

The reason why Malaysians tend to put their trust in SMS (short messaging service), even when the messages are mere rumours, is because of the lack of open discussion on issues in the country, particularly religious matters.

At least, this is the opinion of three academicians when asked why the recent Muslim-Christian conversion rumour spread by SMS became such a big issue.

In previous reports, the controversial Muslim-Christian conversion was spread by SMS claiming that a church in Perak was conducting a baptism ceremony for Muslims over last weekend.

Dr Carmen Nge, an academician from a private institution commented that in order to prevent people from trusting and acting emotionally on rumours spread via SMS, open dialogue on religious matters should be encouraged.

“People do not have the opportunity to voice their opinions, hence they trust this kind of SMS easily because this is one way for them to obtain information and the chance to voice out their dissatisfaction (via sms),” she said when contacted by malaysiakini.

Nge reiterated that it was this suppressing of open discussion that cause people to react anonymously via SMS.

She also urged rational discussion on the recent issue since it has become a complicated one.

Influential tool

Prof Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, a sociologist attached to a government institution, opined that SMS can be a very influential tool especially in spreading rumours on religious matters.

People, he said, were gullible because they lack the proper understanding of the issue at hand due to the lack of transparency on the part of the government in dealing with religious issues.

“It is precisely because of this that people believe in the recent rumours so much,” he added.

Another lecturer, Chiok Phaik Fern, from a private institution commented that when people get numerous SMS on the same issue, they will be inclined to believe that the information is real.

“If you receive a SMS from someone whom you know, there is a good chance you will believe it and react to it,” she said.

Chiok warned that the recent religious SMS could be considered of a more serious nature and it could also reach a state of being a threat to national security.

She advised people to check with the sender to verify the news first they forward it to others.

“It is not right to forward the SMS if we do not verify the message from the source,” Chiok said.

The other two concurred.