The Virtual 'Mamak' Sphere: Malaysian Democracy

The emergence of digital content within contemporary societies has modified the condition in which individuals engage themselves with politics. It now serves as a platform and medium for acquiring as well as sharing of information, steering towards a contemporary theory of a Virtual Sphere. Which brings us back to the Public Sphere theory introduced by Jurgen Habermas, a theory that has been debated over three centuries regarding it's incompatibility within modernizing societies. This research piece analyzes both of the above in the context of the democratic country of Malaysia, where the emergence of new media and its affordances are encouraging the democratic participation amongst Malaysian youths of today. Online political participation will subsequently influence the revitalization of Habermas' public sphere through an online virtual sphere facilitated by Malaysian Mamaks.

Autorentext

Alyssa Yeoh is a media studies graduate who specialized in Television Journalism and Documentary film-making at Goldsmiths University of London. She is currently a Producer and Production Assistant at Core Studios Sdn. Bhd.