Well, this is indeed surprising! Got a call yesterday that yours truly (ehem…) is one of the nominees. In two categories pulak! Hmmm…so paisye…shy le. Me…popular??? 🙂

The organisers did inquire cautiously if I don’t mind being part of the contest (well, that what it looks like to me) organised by MIC. You know, being a blogger means you are either one or all of the following – jobless, stupid, a primate, housewives, or anti-everything. Well, I’m always supportive of any activities that is for the good of the community. I hope this even is not misused or misinterpreted in the future to say youths or bloggers support MIC. I’m sure the organisers know better than to cross swords with bloggers 🙂 So, with the noble intentions (“We want to encourage more Malaysian Indians to blog and share information on the Internet”) outlined by Putera MIC chief in mind, I graciously accept my nomination, even though I’m pretty sure popular is not the word to describe this blog 🙂

Anyway, I disagree with Kamalanathan that bloggers only focus on sensitive issues only because “news sells”. I actually think that the reason for talking about sensitive issues is because there’s not many avenues to discuss it openly and properly. The media does not do the job, public are threatened not to talk in the name of “national security”, and also because many of the “sensitive issues” have elements of crime, discrimination, infringement of human rights, perversion of natural justice or plain lies.

Whatever it is, do give support to fellow bloggers listed in the nomination and do vote for your favorite Malaysian Indian Blogger Idols. Oopps, I’m being carried away here… 🙂

All the best to the nominees. Oh ya…the website is www.manyaawards.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Indian bloggers will be given recognition and honour through an award initiated by Putera MIC. There are nine categories under the Manya Blogger Award which would be decided through online voting for a one-month period starting noon on Friday.

Putera MIC coordinator P. Kamalanathan said this is the first time such an award for the Malaysian Indian bloggers is being held. “We want to encourage more Malaysian Indians to blog and share information on the Internet,” he said Thursday at a press conference here.

He said there were about 1,000 Malaysian Indians bloggers, mainly in the 20 to 24 age group actively giving their views on various issues.

Kamalanathan said they had already shortlisted the finalists for the nine categories. Sixty per cent of the votes would be taken from online voting while another 40% would be decided by a panel of three judges. “The online voting would be on for one month and the judges would take two weeks to make a decision and we hope to have the award ceremony in August,” he said.

He said Putera MIC would also have an online readers’ award where the surfers would be required to submit their choice, irrespective of race. “We have also created a Putera MIC award which would be given to a blogger whom we feel has created a longstanding following amongst the bloggers. It can be a disabled person or even an eight-year-old boy who is blogging,” he said.

Kamalanathan said each of the finalists would be given a certificate of participation while the winners would be given a trophy and cash prizes.

Those who want to vote can go to www.manyaawards.com to cast their votes.

source

Since the March 8 elections, the blogsphere which hitherto remained an unexplored realm by politicians has now become an important facet in the battle of minds and votes.

Recognising this, Putera MIC wants to expose more Indian youths to blogging and encourage them to be fair in their postings and content.

In view of this, the wing will be giving out the Manya Bloggers Awards for blogging excellence in August. At present, most of the blogs which focus on issues pertaining to the Indian Malaysian community are highly critical of MIC, which suffered an electoral massacre losing 18 of its 28 seats.

The latest move by Putera MIC is seen as an attempt to regain lost ground, especially after losing support from the Indian youths. This was evident when the wing announced that 50 percent of those in the running for the awards in the different categories were critical of MIC.

At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, Putera MIC chief P Kamalanathan said: “Many young Indians are still not aware of this (blogging).” “We understand that bloggers want something good to happen in Malaysia. That is why we are encouraging fair blogging here. We are open to constructive criticism.”

Nine categories

According to him, Indian Malaysian bloggers currently make up one percent of Malaysian bloggers and are mostly university students.

As for the awards, Kamalanathan said there are nine categories which cover areas such as socio-political, technology, photoblog, Tamil language and entertainment. While the above categories are limited to Indian bloggers, two other categories – MIC Putera Choice Award and Readers’ Choice Award – are open to all bloggers

The nominees have already been chosen based on suggestions from existing bloggers. The winners will be determined through a combination of a readers’ poll (60 percent) and judges discretion (40 percent). “There will be three judges who are apolitical, independent and bloggers themselves,” said Kamalanathan.”We will only reveal who the judges are a week before polling closes.”

Polling begins at noon tomorrow and will continue until July 6. Readers can cast their votes at www.manyaawards.com. Winners will be judged based on the quality of the articles, reactions from the public, popularity of the blog, content and framework. Participation certificates, cash prices, vouchers and trophies await the participants and winners.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84003

KUALA LUMPUR: They have become constant targets in the Malaysian Indian blogs but the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) still wants to recognise and honour Indian bloggers.
Putera MIC will hold the Manya Blogger Awards 2008 ceremony in August to announce the best bloggers in nine categories.

The categories are Most Popular Male Blogger, Most Popular Female Blogger, Best Entertainment Blog, Best Multi-Authored Blog, Best Personal Blog, Best Photoblog, Best Sociopolitical Blog, Best Tech Blog and Best Tamil Blog.

The majority of the Indian bloggers, numbering about 1,000 are critical of the MIC, said P. Kamalanathan, Putera MIC national co-ordinator.

“Bloggers are critical Malaysians which is good for the country. We do accept their constructive criticisms,” said Kamalanathan, yesterday.
He added Malaysian Indians tend to focus on blogs where the contents are sensitive in nature. “I guess it is because news sells,” he added.

Putera MIC chairman for the ICT bureau Novinthen Krishnan said the majority of bloggers were students aged between 23 and 24. “We still accept their views because young minds change the political world,” he added.

He said the 39 nominees were picked by Putera MIC and a group of professional bloggers. “These nominees were chosen not only because they gave constructive criticism but they also offered ways to address issues affecting the Indians.”

The winners will be chosen through an online poll at www.manyaawards.com and also by a team of three judges. The one-month-long poll carries a weightage of 60 per cent while the judges’ decision is 40 per cent.

source

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