From Straits Times, Singapore
26th January 2000

The government does not want to frighten away potential investors from the Multimedia Super Corridor

KAJANG -- The Internet will remain free from Government control, despite calls to regulate some of its functions -- such as cyber gambling -- said Malaysia's Energy, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Leo Moggie.

He said the Government believed Internet abuse in one form or other would occur, regardless of regulations.

"The Internet is such a vast network that no matter what regulations we put in place, people will find a way to abuse it.

"We have said we will not censor the Internet and the policy remains," he said on Monday.

The government's stand was that it did not want to frighten away investors from the Multimedia Super Corridor, Malaysia's version of Silicon Valley.

One entity that seemed to have gained from the government's stand is an online newspaper called malaysiakini.com.

The website gets visitors from both political camps in Malaysia. Datuk Moggie said discussions were held some time ago to register those who visited cybercafes to access the Internet.

However, he said, the suggestion was shot down because the Government wanted to promote the use of the Internet.

He said cafe owners who wished to turn their premises into cybercafes only needed to register with their local authorities.

Datuk Moggie said the best way to counter the negative influence of the Internet was through parental guidance.

"Parents have to teach their children about the dangers of abusing the Internet," he said.

Last week, the ministry's Deputy Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho said a new law to tighten the licensing of cybercafes was being considered to curb the spread of illegal electronic gambling.