Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the internet, in particular the social media, should be regulated to ensure its beneficial use.
“Alternative media - or social media - is like a knife. It can be use for good use or make it less liveable. When I was the Prime Minister, an expert told me I should never censor the internet. But now I’ve changed my mind,” said Tun Mahathir during a special address at Malaysia Social Media 2015 (MSMW2015) in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
His session was titled “Social media and the future - a view from an elder stateman”.
Dr Mahathir was commenting on pornographic content available on the Internet, which could lead to various social issues.
“Teenagers get excited easily, when they get excited with the wrong things, bad things happen including sex crime,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said society should not abuse the medium but instead use it for a good purpose.
“The social media gives us all power that we never had before. Everyone of us has obtained incredible power.
“Whatever we put in, must be for the good of society, sticking to the truth. It’s very nice to write nasty things about other people, but if it is not contributing anything to society then do not do it,” he said.
He also urged netizens to be more responsible as their actions could affect society.
“In today’s world, we cannot avoid difference, like religious difference. People are sensitive with their faith and belief. If you make fun of them, you create a lot of anger. When the anger mounts, it will result in violence.
“Social media gives a promising future for all of us. If we abuse we will see conflicts, civil war and instability, because we make use of the media to irritate people,” he said.
During the Q&A, Tun Mahathir answered a question posted by Astro AWANI’s Twitter follower.
In response to the question, Tun Mahathir said there is a tendency for the laws to be abused.
“[The government] may translate certain acts as sedition even though it is not seditious. The laws should be used properly.
“If one says 'this country should have a civil war, and we should overthrow the government’ then that’s seditious. If one says we need to change the government and country’s leader then that’s not seditious,” he explained.
When asked about Malayisa producing new social media platoforms, Tun Mahathir admitted that Malaysians are not product developers.
“Malaysians consume products created by others. It does not contribute to the country’s progress. We must come out with ideas like Facebook and Google. We must create products that can ease people when they look for information,” he said.
MSMW2015 is a week-long event, bringing together social media experts from Malaysia and across the world.
Dr Mahathir’s speech was the main highlight from the two-day MSMW2015 summit.
Syafique Shuib
Thu Apr 23 2015
![#MSMW2015: 'The internet should be censored' - Tun M #MSMW2015: 'The internet should be censored' - Tun M](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-04/71429771685_295x200.jpg)
Former prime minister Tun Mahathir says social media gives people power they never had before but it should be use for the benefits of socie
![Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721119130_wargaemasbersalah.jpg)
Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar
Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini mensabitkan kesalahan seorang warga emas atas dua pertuduhan pindaan membunuh abang dan kakak iparnya dua tahun lalu.
![PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721120782_TBMASERMIEYATI.jpg)
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan
Mas Ermieyati Samsudin berkata tempoh itu diberikan susulan laporan audit berkaitan, baru dibentangkan pada minggu lepas.
![Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721118437_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi
Penambahbaikan aspek perundangan akan diteliti kerajaan, termasuk mengadakan perbincangan dengan beberapa kementerian berkaitan dalam masa terdekat.
![Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2019-12/81575261818_GobindSinghDeo.jpg)
Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind
Beliau menegaskan bahawa pelaksanaan e-Invois itu akan memberi manfaat, termasuk meningkatkan pendapatan PKS.
![Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai? Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721117483_KimPangon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon akan ke Ulsan Hyundai?
Bekas pengendali skuad negara itu dilaporkan sedang menjadi calon utama untuk mengisi jawatan pengurus kelab gergasi Korea Selatan, Ulsan Hyundai.
![Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-12/41482504881_TamanTasikTitiwang.jpg)
Lebih 2,300 hektar kawasan lapang di ibu negara diperuntukkan kawasan hijau
Daripada keluasan itu, sebanyak 977.55 hektar tanah telah diwartakan, manakala 1,416.24 hektar tanah lapang yang berpotensi akan dan sedang dalam proses diwartakan.
Guna jawatan untuk projek pembekalan, suami isteri ditahan
Sepasang suami isteri direman enam hari dalam siasatan penyalahgunaan jawatan untuk mendapatkan projek pembekalan bernilai lebih RM200,000.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Majistret Noor Mazrinie Mahmood bermula hari ini hingga Ahad.
DBKL ubah lalu lintas Jalan Sultan Ismail bermula 22 Julai
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) akan melaksanakan perubahan lalu lintas di Jalan Sultan Ismail berkuat kuasa 22 Julai ini.
![ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721116604_ChongZheminDewan.jpg)
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar
Tindakan tersebut seolah-olah satu penghinaan paling besar kepada Parlimen yang telah meluluskan pindaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkait Akta Antilompat Parti.
[TERKINI] Perbelanjaan pengguna Malaysia dijangka kembali teguh
Perbelanjaan pengguna Malaysia dijangka teguh sepanjang tahun ini, demikian menurut BMI, iaitu syarikat Fitch Solitions.
![Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720085306_FadillahYusof.jpg)
Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah
Fadillah berkata perkara itu sudah berlaku ketika zaman pentadbiran bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad lagi.
![Tun M nafi pernah ugut pecat Guan Eng Tun M nafi pernah ugut pecat Guan Eng](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41718003900_SidangMediaTunMa.jpg)
Tun M nafi pernah ugut pecat Guan Eng
Dr Mahathir berkata, beliau sudah pasti menghormati kedudukan Guan Eng sebagai ketua DAP yang ketika itu merupakan ahli gabungan kerajaan.
![Kenapa jual 30 peratus saham kepada penyokong Israel? - Tun Mahathir Kenapa jual 30 peratus saham kepada penyokong Israel? - Tun Mahathir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41718003900_SidangMediaTunMa.jpg)
Kenapa jual 30 peratus saham kepada penyokong Israel? - Tun Mahathir
Tun Dr Mahathir bidas keputusan MAHB yang berhasrat menjual 30 peratus saham mereka kepada firma yang didakwa mempunyai kaitan dengan Israel.
![Batu Puteh: Tun M nafi buat keputusan bersendirian Batu Puteh: Tun M nafi buat keputusan bersendirian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51718182051_tbTunDrMahathirMo.jpg)
Batu Puteh: Tun M nafi buat keputusan bersendirian
Sebaliknya, kata bekas Perdana Menteri ke-4 dan ke-7 itu, keputusan tersebut dibuat oleh Kabinet pada ketika itu.
![Prosiding RCI Batu Puteh: Tun M enggan ulas, bakal adakan sidang media petang ini Prosiding RCI Batu Puteh: Tun M enggan ulas, bakal adakan sidang media petang ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71718169555_TBMahathir.jpg)
Prosiding RCI Batu Puteh: Tun M enggan ulas, bakal adakan sidang media petang ini
Beliau akan mengadakan sidang media di pejabatnya di Yayasan Kepimpinan Perdana pada jam 3 petang ini.
![RCI Batu Puteh: Tun M tiba untuk beri keterangan RCI Batu Puteh: Tun M tiba untuk beri keterangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51718161952_RCIBatuPuteh.jpg)
RCI Batu Puteh: Tun M tiba untuk beri keterangan
Dr Mahathir menghadiri prosiding RCI berkaitan kes kedaulatan Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah dan Tubir Selatan, di Putrajaya, hari ini.
![Johor yang pertama tandatangan perjanjian serah negeri kepada British - Tun M Johor yang pertama tandatangan perjanjian serah negeri kepada British - Tun M](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/41657620609_TBmahathir.jpg)
Johor yang pertama tandatangan perjanjian serah negeri kepada British - Tun M
Perjanjian itu dibatalkan apabila orang Melayu bergabung dalam UMNO dan membantah serta menolak Perjanjian MacMichael dan Malayan Union.
![12 Jun keputusan permohonan Dr Mahathir untuk semakan kehakiman 12 Jun keputusan permohonan Dr Mahathir untuk semakan kehakiman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/71694834649_TBTUNM.jpg)
12 Jun keputusan permohonan Dr Mahathir untuk semakan kehakiman
Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini menetapkan 12 Jun untuk keputusan permohonan semakan kehakiman yang difailkan oleh Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berhubung prosiding Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja (RCI) untuk
![SPRM belum terima notis isytihar harta dua anak Tun M SPRM belum terima notis isytihar harta dua anak Tun M](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/71714132726_TBMASHUP.jpg)
SPRM belum terima notis isytihar harta dua anak Tun M
Azam berkata, pihaknya ada berbincang dengan peguam kepada Mirzan Mahathir dan Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir mengenai tempoh pengisytiharan.
![Filem Lee Chong Wei satukan Tun M, Azmin Filem Lee Chong Wei satukan Tun M, Azmin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/51715828713_SyedSaddiqbuku.jpg)
Filem Lee Chong Wei satukan Tun M, Azmin
Kedua-duanya ketika itu mempunyai beberapa isu berkenaan darjah kebesaran Dr Mahathir ditarik balik dan gesaan Azmin dilantik menjadi PM.