World War Wired - Esquire Malaysia

Esquire Malaysia, Feb 2014

"I can understand the government's need to monitor potential threats. How do you expect them to do this without monitoring activities, conversations, channels? Let's put it simply: if the government doesn't monitor at all, they would be a fool to do that"

Last December, I was interviewed by Esquire Malaysia pertaining to the issues of cyber surveillance and the century-old-debate between liberty and security. What are the perimeters? How do we draw the line between respecting citizens' privacy and at the same time ensuring and maintaining public safety and security? Even US Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain had once publicly stated that the US do not yet have the right formula of balancing between people's privacy and national security. My view is that (this is not in the magazine) each and every country on earth have its own unique history, culture and society. In this respect, a one-size-fits-all policy won't work. What may work in America may not be viable in Japan or Korea or Malaysia and vice versa.

So anyways, I don't claim to be an expert in the subject matter, but Jon insisted on interviewing me as an academician. So if you're interested in reading Jon Chew's great story and my humble two cents on the issue, please get yourself a copy of the latest Esquire Malaysia at the nearest magazine store.