Kuala Lumpur - The Malaysian government has cancelled a short-lived plan to install a filter to block pornographic websites, following criticisms that the move was a blow to internet freedom, news reports said Thursday.

The about-turn comes barely a week after Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim announced that the government was already in the process of selecting an internet filtering system to block pornographic sites.

The announcement received a barrage of criticism from bloggers and opposition groups who claimed the move went against the government's pledge to not censor the internet when it launched a high-tech zone modelled on California's Silicon Valley in 1996.

Rais had initially rejected the criticism, but on Wednesday announced that the government has cancelled its plans.

"We will not filter the internet," Rais was quoted as saying by the Star daily.

Instead, he said the government would look at ways to use existing criminal laws against those using the internet for pornography.

"We will provide the relevant law and enforcement agencies with the necessary particulars for action to be taken.

"We have laws in this country, including those involving the internet and everyone must abide by them. Perpetrators will have to answer if they break the law," said Rais.

Political blogs, most of which carry anti-government articles, have become increasingly popular in Malaysia.

While the government does not have an internet censorship law, several prominent bloggers have been hauled in for questioning and charged with sedition for their online articles in the past year. (dpa)