KL does U-turn on Net filter plan

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    Date: 
    12 August 2009

    Malaysia yesterday backtracked from a controversial plan to filter the Internet, with Prime Minister Najib Razak saying the government never wanted to impose curbs on cyberspace.

    The U-turn was made after complaints by netizens and the political opposition that the move is ultimately targeted at dissent, and not just pornography as claimed by officials.

    "Up till now, there is no change in the government's Internet policy," he told reporters after attending an official event.

    His position differed from that taken by Information Minister Rais Yatim just hours earlier, who confirmed media reports that the government wanted to censor the Internet.