The government never had an intention to place online news websites under the purview of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) as it believes that the Internet should remain free, said Deputy Home Affairs Minister Chor Chee Heung today.

Chor, who was speaking as a panel member at a press freedom workshop organised by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), said the allegations that the government intended to regulate Internet media were groundless.

"It is not true that the government wants websites to get a [publishing permit] from the Home Affairs Ministry. We do not know why people have deliberately said this. The Malaysian government's position is that Internet should be free," he said.

Under the PPPA, all printed publications are required to obtain annual publishing permits and printing licences from the ministry.

Stringent actions

Chor said this position has been adopted despite the fact that other countries are also taking stringent actions to curb the Internet.

According to Chor, several recorded attempts have been made by foreign governments to restrict freedom on the Internet.

In 1996, the United States government under former President Bill Clinton is said to have tried restricting pornographic materials on the Internet citing the nation's Communications Decency Act. The bid was rejected by US courts.

The deputy minister also said Australian legislators have put the responsibility on the Australian Broadcasting Authority to ensure that no unhealthy news items, obscenities or extremely violent depictions are published online.

Chor stated that although the government was often vilified by its Western detractors for being unaccommodating and unfair, the same critics are now adopting similar approaches in law.

"After the Sept 11 incident, the US passed the Patriot Act which is similar to Malaysia's ISA. The United Kingdom is now working on the same kind of legislation," he said.

Life more sacred

However, Chor clarified that by passing these laws, these countries may not necessarily be less democratic.

"As administrators, [governments] have to take into account all factors. The sanctity of human rights may have to give way the right to survive and [preserve] human life which is more sacred than anything else," he added.

Stemming from this, Chor said that although Malaysia subscribes to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it has a higher duty to preserve political stability and security in the country.

The deputy minister added that although the canons of journalism prescribe that journalists' reports should not have elements which could negatively affect aspects such as internal security and morality, the government still need to have mechanisms to ensure that this is preserved.

"The media is an important medium which has a profound effect on readers and it is an effective weapon in the hands of certain groups of people.

To ensure that journalists do not forget this role, we need a mechanism where we are able to ensure (that the country) is free and safe for its multiracial community," Chor added.