Najib arriving back at the KLIA today after a 3-day state visit to Brunei. – Bernama pic

By Adib Zalkapli

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak has firmly denied a plan to police the Internet citing technical obstacles and strong public displeasure over it, just hours after Datuk Seri Rais Yatim confirmed a possible “green dam”.

“The government has no desire to implement Internet filtering,” the prime minister said when commenting on Rais’ remarks that the government wants to shut out smut.

“This matter will be decided by the Cabinet but all this while we have never intended to filter the internet,” Najib added despite the information, communication and culture ministry’s tender exercise to evaluate such a feasibility.

Rais (centre) in the middle of the Internet storm. – Bernama pic

“Firstly because it is not effective, secondly, it may cause dissatisfaction among the people because in this ICT and borderless age, information moves around freely,” he sad when explaining the reason why the government will not filter the Internet.

He also noted that any plans to amend government policy will be decided by the Cabinet.

The opposition has criticised the move saying it is politically motivated and an attempt to deny the people from accessing information not in favour of the government.

But Rais this morning said the government only intended to block access to pornographic sites.

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.

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 heavy criticism as it is perceived as an attempt to clamp down on political dissent.

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