The country's civil liberties reforms will take time but most Malaysians are willing to wait for the government to implement them, said Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

NONE "If you are talking about the new laws we are putting forward, the transformation that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ( right ) is talking about, we need to balance between national interest and national security, rights and freedom.

"That takes time, and I believe majority of Malaysian will give us that time," he said at a press conference after the Global Movement of Moderates International Conference at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre this evening.

"The intention is to do what is right and if the people do not have to pay the cost that Japan had to go through that is something well worth the thought and effort," he said.

No bloodshed

Hishammuddin was referring to the bloodshed that Japan had suffered during World War II before transitioning into a modern society.

Despite the country being in transition, Hishammuddin added, there has been no bloodshed or riots in the streets.

"We do give space for us to get used to the transition, but I believe it requires patience and a lot of courage."