The government does not plan to regulate or control Internet content when the Multimedia Act is due for review, according to the Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry

The ministry's parliamentary secretary Chia Kwang Chye said only clauses related to technological development in the IT industry would be reviewed.

"As far as Internet usage is concerned the ministry's approach is more to educate users, such as parents, of the softwares available to prevent their children from viewing 'undesirable' sites," Chia told malaysiakini .

However, he said it was only fair to prosecute those who abuse the Internet.

"We have already existing laws such as the sedition, defamation, printing presses and publications acts to handle that," Chia added.

His comments are in keeping with the government's guarantee of no Internet censorship.

In Parliament last year Chia told the House that although there are strict guidelines against the spread of lies and defamatory statements through the medium, the government remains firm that it will not censor any information on the Internet.

However, this appears to contradict Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim's statement, also made last year, that the government will "unleash another set of missiles" on Internet publications that threaten the country's security.

Rais said details of the planned assault are a secret until the 'missiles' are launched.

The de facto law minister also said laws pertaining to crimes in virtual space have to be streamlined to catch up with the rapidly changing scenario and a task force is already studying the matter.

PM's proposal

Censorship has long been a controversial issue between local authorities and civil rights groups.

With the restrictive Printing Presses and Publications Act hanging over the print and broadcast media like the Sword of Damocles, many dissenting voices have resorted to the Internet to publish views critical of the government.

These view are protected by Section 3(3) of the Communications and Multimedia Act which reads: "Nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting the censorship of the Internet".

News of the government's intention to curb unfavourable websites first came about when Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad proposed a review of the existing media laws, such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act, in the middle of last year.

Following this, Rais had said that new laws would be introduced to 'cleanse' the Internet of anti-government materials and pornography.

The government is expected to introduce an amendment bill to the PPPA in the next parliament session which is scheduled to begin next month. The amendments could include licensing provisions for Internet news providers such as malaysiakini .