The social media in Malaysia is being monitored and existing laws are sufficient to weed out troublemakers trying to test the limits of free speech, Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said today.

Shabery said this in response to reports that Malaysia would curb Internet access, particularly the charge by DAP's Lim Guan Eng that the government was planning draconian measures to undermine freedom of information so as to perpetuate the BN's hold to power.

ahmad shabery cheek 041108 02 "The laws that we make are not to defend the party alone - that's wrong," Ahmad Shabery ( right ), who is also an Umno supreme council member, said.

He said any review of Internet access or multimedia laws would be made to ensure that the Internet was not abused by careless users to offend others.

"Don't offend others and say "I don't care". There are laws in Malaysia that state the interests of the majority are more important than the individual or the minority," Shabery warned.

For example, social media users should not publicly pose threats or trample on the feelings of others through the Internet.

The government, Shabery said, was aware that there were some rogue elements seeking to tests the limits of free speech and they would be dealt with under laws such as the Sedition Act, Penal Code and the Film Censorship Act.

"Many people want to test the laws that exist, but I am still confident that the current laws are sufficient," he added.

National news agency Bernama last week quoted Shabery as saying that Internet misuse in Malaysia had reached a critical level and that hise ministry would not hesitate to revise the Internet facilities and access accorded to users in the country.

He also noted that the usage of the social media, such as Facebook , continues to grow beyond 14-16 million and the social media therefore could not be left unmonitored.

Shabery was speaking to reporters at the launch of the online-access HyppTV to nationwide subscribers of Telekom Malaysia's high-speed broadband services.

He said he hoped the move would help widen the platform for showing more local media content and also create space for Malaysians to interact and build common ties to strengthen the country.