Malaysia's new information minister has pledged not to impose curbs on bloggers, who have been accused by other government officials of spreading lies and undermining public stability.
Internet commentators played a key role in recent general elections by catering to voters who wanted an alternative source of news besides television and newspapers, Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek told reporters late on Friday.
"If there is something newsworthy, I don't see anything wrong in them posting it," the national news agency Bernama and the New Straits Times daily quoted Ahmad Shabery as saying. "Everyone has the freedom to use the blogs as an information distribution center."
The remarks by Ahmad Shabery, who took over the ministry on Wednesday, reflect a softening in the government's stance toward bloggers.
His predecessor and other officials have repeatedly criticized bloggers and warned that new laws could be crafted to rein in bloggers who dispense malicious or false rumors that could stir tensions.
CRITICS
Some of Malaysia's most popular blogs offer political commentaries that include criticism of government policies, presenting themselves as a substitute to mainstream media that are controlled by or closely linked to ruling political parties.
Opposition groups credit the Internet for helping to convince voters to turn against the ruling National Front coalition in March 8 elections.
The coalition remained in power, but lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority and retained control of only eight of Malaysia's 13 states.
The diminished showing was attributed to public dissatisfaction over rising prices, corruption scandals and racial and religious tensions.
Ahmad Shabery said that he planned to meet with bloggers soon to "better understand their sentiments and give them an avenue to express themselves," the New Straits Times reported.
"Bloggers' views cannot be ignored," the minister was quoted as saying. "We've overlooked their roles and failed to understand their feelings."
Ministry officials could not immediately be contacted.
PROPS
Many Malaysian bloggers welcomed Ahmad Shabery's comments in postings online.
"Way to go, Mr. Info. Minister," wrote blogger S.K. Thew. "I'm here to give you the benefit of doubt since you've shown the courage to engage us."
Worries about online freedom mounted last year after a government-linked newspaper filed defamation lawsuits against two prominent bloggers, who were accused of posting allegedly libelous statements about the paper's editors and executives.
In a separate instance, an opposition party blogger was detained by police for five days over comments posted on his Web site that linked a deputy minister to corruption.
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