The government has advised online information providers, including newspapers like malaysiakini , to observe ethical practices and not to abuse the channel by publishing wild allegations and false accusations.

Nanyang Siang Pau today front-paged an interview with Energy, Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Tan Chai Ho, who said that the government planned to formulate regulations for website contents, ethics and prepare guidelines to monitor the online websites, including Internet newspapers.

"Now the government can't control website contents, but we hope the website operators will not abuse such a medium to make wild allegations," Tan told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

Tan stated that his ministry officials will meet with website services providers and non-government organisations (NGOs) on March 7 to discuss and prepare a draft on the said regulations.

He hoped it would not be too long before "the guidelines for ethical content to conform to legislation" would be finalised, Nanyang reported.

The government, Tan said, will not censor website contents, but he stressed that it does not mean the website operators can abuse the medium by making wild accusations.

He pointed out that under the 1998 Communications and Multimedia Act, Section 233, circulation of "wild allegations" can be prosecuted and an offender can be fined up to RM50,000 or jailed up to one year or both.

Commenting on online publications launched recently, Tan said the government has "no intention to control Internet newspapers", but he hoped that they would exercise self-discipline and not publish unfounded allegations and criticisms.

"For example, with malaysiakini.com, the government has no control over its website content," Tan added.

On the PAS' newsletter Harakah going online, Tan said that if the Internet edition was the same as the print edition, then the Home Minstry's condition of restricting it to publishing "twice a month" applies.

"They (PAS) must know self control, and not go against the law," he added.