'Porn sites must be blocked'

2005-06-15 15:13

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia has ordered internet cafes to install anti-porn filters, and internet service providers to provide customers with the software, in a campaign to curb access to pornography, said reports on Wednesday.

Telephone companies and internet service providers "have been ordered to do it fast".

Science, technology and innovation Minister Jamaluddin Jarjis said: "There should not be any excuses."

Jarjis was speaking to the New Straits Times.

Under cabinet measures approved last week to crackdown on porn, internet cafes would have to filter content before receiving operating licences, and a centre would be created to receive complaints on indecent material.

Enforcing cabinet's directives

Jamaluddin said consumers would be given a choice as to whether they wanted to use the filtering services, but that the providers must offer it at cost price.

He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, which regulated the two sectors, was to enforce the cabinet's directives immediately.

While the government had moved to improve internet access throughout the country, it was concerned that increasing numbers of Malaysians would be able to view pornography through computers and mobile devices.

Deputy prime minister Najib Razak last month said access to porn websites had been blocked in government departments and that similar measures would soon follow in schools.

- SAPA