Do we still have our own privacy?

According to Privacy Commissioner of Canada, privacy means the right to control access to one's person and information about one's self. The right to privacy means that individuals get to decide what and how much information to give up, to whom it is given, and for what uses. However, do you think that we as a Malaysian are under the protection of privacy?

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In Bangkit.net, i have found out that Malaysia scored miserably in the international ranking on privacy for 2007 mainly due to the continued use of the Internal Security Act which allows for police search and seizure of evidence without a warrant, the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) and the use of biometrics to monitor immigrants in an environment where privacy laws. There are numerous cases which reveal our privacy to the public around the world. The case of Elizabeth Wong, who was a Bukit Lanjan assemblyman and Selangor executive council member, has caused her to resign her post as the consequences of her nude picture being circulated to the public through MMS. This incident strongly intrude her personal life and privacy. Indirectly, people have conspired to undermine her credibility as Selangor state exco member. In my point of view, she is the victim afterall, we should not

point our fingers at her by saying that she hasn't performing her work ethically.There were the possibilities that some protestors might want to pull her down from her current position by using this scandal. Elizabeth indeed needs a huge courage to overcome this challenges. I have read her blog which stated that she's leaving Malaysia as she felt it's humiliated after receiving the further notice by the media they will continue to publish even more graphical, sensational stories of her private life. Can you imagine how stressful it is when you were in that situation? Longing for the need to rest and search for peace of mind, she hopes to get away all the stormy events surrounding her. It is the fact that everyone needs their own privacy, so do i. None of us will like people to invade our own space without noticing us. Since none of us like to be invaded, why can't the artists and politicians perceive the right to be left alone as well? If there isn't a deterrant law to take against the people who involving in intrution of privacy, how can we as a Malaysian feel safe enough to move around?

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Perhaps, some of us,especially girls, might worry that there was a hidden camera which was installed in public toilet/lifts or even changing rooms! This really happens around us, as there was a case where a man was fined only RM100 for taking a picture of a young girl urinating at a public toilet with his handphone cameara. Do you think that it is reasonable enough to charge that man for minimal money? I think that this kind of action should be reviewed to be appropriate with the times and damage that it caused (trauma especially). If the deter is not punished with any heavy penalty, there will definitely be more future offenders who will slowly divulge our privacy life, none of us will know when are we going to be the next target. . .