PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA - Government politicians are not united in their views on whether greater media freedom is necessary in Malaysia.

While two were amenable to less government control, one was for keeping the status quo, when asked for their views in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day yesterday.

Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said he supported the recent suggestion by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar that the annual licensing requirement for newspapers under the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) be waived.

"I hope this will be the first step that will lead to more reform for openness in the PPPA and other related legislations," he said.

"I believe that through education and experience in the democratic process, our people will become increasingly mature and moderate, understanding that democracy also means responsibility," he said.

Rembau MP and Deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin believes that a free and responsible media was an important pillar of a democratic society.

He said it was time for the unprecedented openness for the press to be strengthened by institutional reforms.

"The first step that the Government could consider would be to abolish the annual licence renewal as suggested by the Home Minister," he said.

Khairy said one way of overseeing the media in a reformed environment would be through self-regulation, where the media took the lead in setting up a Press Complaints Commission that would ensure fair and ethical reporting, and prevent racial and religious incitement from being published or aired.

"Once that is in place with adequate safeguards against abuse of the freedom of speech, I think we can and should repeal the PPPA. Freedom must come with responsibility; both are equally important," he said.

However, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz felt that the PPPA was necessary because Malaysia had a multiracial population.

"I will not allow this country to be destroyed by extremist views. We have to be careful with what is written in the newspapers," he said.

Nazri said he held this view not because he did not believe in freedom of the press but because he loved Malaysia more.

"For as long as I am a member of the Cabinet, I will argue for not abolishing the Act. I love Malaysians and the good relations we have. This must be maintained," he said.

Nazri said the problem with having more freedom was that it would become difficult to determine limits.

He said it was better to have a law that could be used to ensure that nobody crosses the line.

"What is this line? The Government decides what it is," he said.

"Prevention is better. For me, I think you have to defeat me in the elections and then let the new government do it."