Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak has rubbished Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claims that the government is cracking down on critics.

The former premier had in his blog today, said politicians should roll with the punches when insulted or criticised, and that the government should only take action if laws were broken.

Salleh however said there were limits to criticism, and that decency, truth, and legality must be upheld.

"Calling someone a dog or pig cannot be classified as criticising. We also have libel and slander laws that make it a crime to allege something against someone that is not true," the senator said in a blog post today.

He added that Mahathir himself had said that Malaysia was a very delicate country and that riots were easily sparked.

"This is why the government has to control what you can and cannot say, in case someone says something that triggers bloodshed," Salleh said.

He then accused the former premier of now believing that "the end justifies the means".

Mahathir had made the remarks about the government being sensitive to insults while lamenting that the government was now oppressing the people instead of protecting them.

Preaching separation of powers, Mahathir said government action against its critics show that this is no longer the case.

He also claimed that he had never taken action against his critics.

It is believed that Mahathir was commenting on the expulsion of his son Mukhriz Mahathir, and his ally former Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, which Umno had explained was a disciplinary matter.