The authorities have been urged to increase efforts to monitor social media in order to filter and block slanderous and racist materials.

Federal Territory Wanita MIC chief S Kogilam ( right ) said that this is ensure that the country’s harmony will not be affected.

“Social media should be utilised properly,” she said in a statement, adding that people should also not believe everything that is spread online.

Kogilam had earlier supported Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin who had said that the Sedition Act may be amended to cover social media abuses.

She said his statement showed how the government always guarantees that strict action will be taken regardless of the offender’s race or religion.

Muyhiddin’s statement came on the back of Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek’s statement on Saturday that the government is mulling closing down Facebook following a case of abuse involving the social networking site.

He said the government is seeking public feedback on the matter, but stressed that it would be difficult as there are 15 million local users compared to only 2,000 reports of abuse received.

Meanwhile various quarters, including DAP and MCA representatives, have warned the government against taking this approach, saying there are laws in place to address such abuses and banning Facebook would cause Malaysia's already low World Press Freedom Index standing to plummet further.