The government may not hesitate to impose censorship guidelines for Internet newspapers if "rumours" continue to surface, Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung told the Dewan Rakyat this morning.

"At the moment, the government has no interest to interfere with the Internet as we move towards globalisation. But, there may come a time when the government may have to be given the right to enforce regulations on the contents of the Internet," he said in response to a question from Dr. Haji Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis (BN-Rompin).

Chor added that the Printing Presses and Publications Act did not have the power in terms of enforcement against those who misused the Internet to spread malicious rumours and lies.

"We must exercise 'internal censorship'. At present, it depends on the individual who is victimised by the rumours or lies to take action against the publisher of the article," he added.

In reply to an earlier question by Jamaludin as to what actions were taken against newspaper publishers who violated the Act, Chor said that the actions included advice, warning, suspending and terminating the permit.

Meanwhile, Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) asked the deputy minister to state what was the offence committed by PAS' newspaper Harakah, whose publication has been restricted from eight issues to two per month.

"This subject is now over and does not need any further clarification. The newspaper was given numerous warnings and finally a show-cause letter, but the publishers refused to comply with the regulations, thus leaving the government with no other choice but to impose the restriction," Chor replied.

He added that the Home Ministry has taken action against 264 publishers since 1996 to March this year for offences under the Act.