(Person) Percentage - Sabanci University Research Database

The Asian Conference on Media & Mass Communication Osaka, Japan
media has also brought correspondence to greater heights in terms of participation.
Furthermore, those who accessed social network sites perceive the role of new media as
being a platform for expression.
The results suggest that gender and online news are significant for the factor of
participation that touched on politics and thus may generate higher level of interest and
engagement in politics. Chinese males (in comparison to females) view the new media as a
platform for greater participation in politics and discussion as they may find it to be more
exciting (feeling the sense of empowerment and attaining a form of recognition) when
engaging in a discussion. Chinese youth who “always” access to the online news for political
information and news also view the new media as a participatory tool that promotes more
active participation in political issues as found by Calenda and Meijer (2007).
All these show that new media has provided another platform to encourage more
active participation from the citizens (in this case Chinese youth aged 20 to 24) in relation to
political information and news. This is very important as one of the key criteria in democracy
is the active participation of citizens, and the media as a participatory tool makes this more
possible. Somehow, the terms used by Bobbio (1987,p.10), ‘substantial’ proportion of the
people in democracy is challenged as the new media are only available to those who have the
access, therefore the overall idea of democracy is hazy despite the active participation of
those who have the access.
Results also reveal that Chinese youth who are frequent users of the new media
choose these new media to obtain political news and information as it convenient. This can
be explained by the features equipped by new media which is fast, updated, and convenient,
as political news and information can also be obtained from online news websites, blogs or
mobile media (SMS). Furthermore, the information obtained from new media are also of
greater variety in viewpoints and it is important to supply a variety of viewpoints to them to
have a rational decision making (with more choices) in the democracy process. The new
media also helps to allow them to be in contact with like-minded people, as what has been
discussed in Louw (2005, p.31-35) that media in democracy also served as ‘public builders’,
to form a social glue, constructing and holding together public opinion. Another probable
aspect is that the new media may be amplifying the echo chamber effect. Further research
would be required on this aspect. Therefore, the new media offers a unique dimension and
platform as an alternative battlefield terrain to persuade current electorate and most
importantly, to influence future voters that will ensure the preservation of democracy or its
evolution.
Limitations
The study only looks at one of the three main ethnic groups in Malaysia – the Chinese youth.
Two other main groups, the Malays and Indians are not included. To fully understand how
the new media is shaping the political landscape and their perception on its role in democracy,
all the main ethnic groups would have to be studied. A more comprehensive study
encompassing all those aged 21 (or 20) to 40 would be appropriate across all three ethnic
groups in Malaysia to truly reflect the new media impact in shaping their perception on
political issues and the democracy process.
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