The Malaysian Foreign Ministry today said Putrajaya needed to maintain peace, stability and harmony, in defending the ban on news portal The Malaysian Insider ( TMI ) after the move was criticised by the United States.

"While Malaysia upholds freedom of speech and right to information, such freedom and right must be exercised responsibly and with accountability.

"The government of Malaysia has a responsibility to maintain peace, stability and harmony in the country and to safeguard the multiracial and multicultural values, norms and practices in Malaysia," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement tonight.

It added that the ban on TMI for violating Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA) was made after "careful and due consideration on the impact of such a ban on freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Malaysia".

The Foreign Ministry added that Putrajaya values its comprehensive partnership with the US and wants to maintain a progressive and dynamic partnership.

"Malaysia believes that the US shares and reciprocates this sentiment.

"Malaysia also believes that the bilateral ties could be further strengthened to greater heights through closer cooperation and better understanding of the domestic issues in Malaysia," it said.

This comment comes after the US today expressed concern at the state of affairs in Malaysia.

US department of state spokesperson John Kirby in a statement today said the US is " troubled " by a series of restrictions against media organisations.

“Of equal concern, many Malaysian social media users face charges for postings critical of the government and national leaders," he said.

The TMI was last week banned for supposedly violating Section 233 of the CMA which concerns the misuse of network facilities.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak later confirmed that TMI 's article on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had contributed to the ban.

The news portal had produced an article titled: ‘Enough proof to charge Najib over SRC, says MACC oversight committee’.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was investigating RM42 million in deposits from state-owned SRC International, as well as another RM2.6 billion from an offshore account into Najib's personal bank accounts.

Najib maintains he had not violated any law and attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali also cleared the prime minister of wrongdoing.

However, the MACC is appealing Apandi's decision not to prosecute.