GOVT WANTS TO ENSURE INTERNET NOT MISUSED

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- The government is not looking to find
faults on bloggers and internet users but rather wants them to adhere to the
guidelines and law to make sure the internet which acts as an alternative media,
was not misused or exploited.

Minister of Information, Communication and Culture Dr Rais Yatim said the
ministry plays an important role in establishing only the right kind of
information reaches the masses.

"It is not that we are looking for faults all the time. But we would
like the right of the people to be guarded by the relevant authorities and the
law.

"Our aim is to see the IMalaysia concept succeed. However, in order to
succeed, the facts must not be twisted or misinterpreted by some until it raises
racial sentiments.

"If the right information does not reach the people how can there be
success. So, I want everyone to understand and respect the law," he said told
reporters after the ministry's monthly gathering at the Sultan Abdul Samad
building here Thursday.

He added that this country is a country of law and anybody who violates the
law has to answer for his or her action.

"Therefore under this ministry there are various laws that govern the rights
of people to communicate through the internet especially. We would like to
assure to the public that those who had been maligned by the web or bloggers,
have the right to report to us and then (we are) to see whether it contains
any truth or not.

"So, we shall establish the mechanism to assure the public so that there is
no abuse of the communication system in the country. It's quite far from you
saying that we are looking for people to prosecute in that manner," he said,
referring to a question from a reporter.

He said the communication department under the ministry should be
continually concerned with the trend now which is ongoing and should be looking
for maligned news, twisted facts or untruthful postings.

The ministry however would not be taking hasty actions against government
critics as long as they did not flout the Communications and Multimedia Act, he
said.

He added that officers and agencies under the ministry were capable of
carrying out their duties and enforcing the Communications and Multimedia Act,
and the role of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
-- BERNAMA