The Malaysian Insider

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — Datuk Seri Rais Yatim today confirmed the Najib administration is looking at putting an Internet filter to stop access to undesirable websites particularly pornography, but will leave bloggers to existing laws.

The information, communication and culture minister also took a swipe at "liberals" and told them to look at countries that had become "victims" of pornography.

"We cannot compromise on the protection of Malaysian children from pornography," Rais said when questioned about the Internet filter as reported by The Malaysian Insider yesterday.

"Those who refer to themselves as liberals or liberalism should look to those countries that have become victims where child sex has happened, the moral of pornography has become widespread. So the government will look at ways to overcome this problem," he added.

The minister appeared flustered and annoyed when members of the media posed questions on the proposed plan to filter the Internet as he wanted to keep the focus of the press conference on National Day celebrations.

When one reporter was half-way through a question on whether the government was in the process of tendering the Internet filter project, Rais abruptly cut in with a question on the journalist's background and media affiliation.

The interest in the topic of Internet filtering was not limited to local media as several international media were also present and keen to learn of the government's intentions.

A proposed Internet filter would appear to go against the government's commitment not to censor the Internet as part of the Bill of Guarantees under the national ICT initiative MSC Malaysia.

Most countries that attempt to censor the Internet, such as Iran and China, have come under heavy criticism as it is perceived as an attempt to clamp down on political dissent.

But Rais denied that the proposed Internet filtering was to stop bloggers from inflaming racial sentiments as mentioned by other media organisations.

"Bloggers will face the normal laws of the land (if they breach the laws)," said Rais, who has been at the forefront to curb bloggers, most of whom were seen as a catalyst for the ruling Barisan Nasional's dismal performance in Election 2008.

He added that he has directed the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission to look into how to overcome the problem of Internet pornography.

The veteran minister, who has been in government since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's father's time as premier, said the government was still studying the filtering process, adding that it would only be implemented once every aspect of it was fully considered.

It is understood that four companies have sent in proposals for the Internet filter with a decision expected to be made in December by the National Security Council led by Najib.

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