“Don’t allow it to come to a stage where action needs to be taken against those who abuse the internet and social media,” he said in a blog post today.

He added that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) may be instructed to monitor social media.

“After all, if you’re educated enough to use social media, then you should be educated enough to differentiate between right and wrong.”

He said bloggers and social media users had been quite “reckless” of late in terms of what they posted on the internet.

“This has intensified probably due to the upcoming general election where sentiments are running high. We must not allow this to jeopardise the peace, harmony and stability of Malaysia.”

He said notwithstanding the laws that controlled the abuse of social media such as the publishing of fake news as well as seditious and libellous postings, bloggers and social media users should be sensible and responsible enough to practise self-censorship.

“Why wait until the government needs to act or clamp down on the abuse of the internet? Malaysians know what’s socially acceptable and what’s offensive,” he added.