The government has warned malaysiakini to be responsible about its content and not to abuse the freedom stipulated under the Multimedia Super Corridor Bill of Guarantee.

Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry parliamentary secretary Chia Kwang Chye also named opposition party PAS' online organ harakahdaily as another website which needed to be careful.

"The ministry won't put these websites under scrutiny because they don't possess licences which empower the ministry to oversee them. However this doesn't mean they can do whatever they like, you must be responsible for your content.

"This is because you are not an unknown or underground website which we do not know about or are difficult for us to trace. Like malaysiakini , it is a legitimate company, we know your movement and the location of your office," he told reporters when met at Parliament yesterday.

Chia also defended the police raid on malaysiakini early this year and stressed that the action did not violate the Bill of Guarantee as the police were merely acting upon a report.

"If the police didn't take action or investigate, this would also be wrong," he added.

Investigations completed

On Jan 20, a police team raided malaysiakini 's office in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur after Umno Youth lodged a report against the online daily for publishing an allegedly seditious letter.

The team also seized 19 central processing units (CPUs) from the premises after editor-in-chief Steven Gan refused to identify the letter writer.

Subsequently, statements were also recorded from Gan and several other editorial staff. Seventeen CPUs were also returned in stages.

The raid was soundly criticised both locally and internationally.

Last week, the Home Ministry said the police have completed the investigation against the online daily and the papers have been referred to the attorney-general, who will decide on further action.

No censorship

Earlier, Chia told the Dewan Rakyat that the government will guarantee Internet freedom as stipulated in the Bill of Guarantee.

Although those who abused the Internet could be punished under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, he said the laws were 'insufficient and ineffective' if users lacked awareness and ethics.

He also acknowledged that regulating the Internet was not an easy task and added that developed countries such as Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore and America also face this problem.

"Due to this, the government has decided not to impose censorship on Internet content. This will also encourage the use of the Internet and the information communication technology industry," said Chia in his two-hour ministerial wind-up.

Expounding further on the difficulty in controlling the Internet, the parliamentary secretary cited an example which left the House in stitches.

"If today harakahdaily's server is attacked by viruses, who knows maybe you still have another server in the US and can operate as usual. So this is not easy to control," he said.

Positive use

In view of this, Chia urged the practice of "positive Internet usage" and advised parents to install software that filter undesirable websites.

"Internet is a very effective channel to deliver information but certain irresponsible quarters always use it to disseminate false news which could cause negative impacts on social harmony.

"The abuse of Internet is morally and legally wrong, we must eliminate this situation," he said.

At this juncture, Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS-Tumpat) asked whether the ministry will put websites with political content under its crosshair or initiate action against them.

The opposition parliamentarian cited the police raid on malaysiakini as an example.

Chia then reiterated that there will be no censorship but stressed that there were other laws such as the Police Act which could be invoked if the content violated the laws of the country.