BN strategic communications director Abdul Rahman Dahlan believes the people will support the government on regulating the Internet for the sake of unity, security and economic stability.

He said the ruling coalition is willing to wager its future on this move.

Rahman also emphasised that the government would only regulate and not control the Internet.

"We are willing to put our future as a political party on the table.

"Let the people decide in two to three years time from now (during general election), whether the position we are taking (in the interest of) security is appreciated by the people," he said.

"We will face the rakyat in the general election. This is the ultimate test for us, this is where we are going to be tested if they accept our policy," Rahman said.

"But I feel the rakyat will be with us," he told a press conference on the sidelines of the national housing and property summit in Petaling Jaya.

'We are willing to face the consequences'

He also cited several incidents which threatened unity and noted how the government was forced to take action.

"We are willing to face the consequences, whether from the opposition or the rakyat," he added.

It is therefore incumbent upon the government of the day to take care of the security of the nation before a chaotic situation arises.

"Say whatever you want against the government, be it (the government will) control (the Internet), but security is our responsibility," Rahman said.

Earlier this month, newly-minted Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said Malaysia would follow international standards in regulating the Internet.

On Aug 8, Salleh ( photo ) said in this regard, the revision of related laws would include a study on what was considered to be the norm in advanced countries that uphold freedom of speech.

Salleh has instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to meet Facebook, Google and Twitter "to seek their cooperation to stem the increasing tide of false information and rumours from spreading via their social media applications".

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has said the government needs to regulate the Internet to stop online insults and false news from spreading and to make sure no one falls victim to this.

What Najib wanted to do, Rahman explained, was to regulate the Internet based on best practices, which would be based how the developed nations monitor the Internet.

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