KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 — Barisan Nasional (BN) women’s wing threw its back today behind the government’s proposals to tighten Internet laws in the country, saying it will put a stop to irresponsible social media users who post accusations online and then disappear.

Expressing its support, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who heads the women’s wing for BN and its anchor party Umno, said politicians are not the only ones to fall foul of these cyber-attacks but regular Malaysians too.

“We want all social media users to be responsible for all the news or posts.

“They will no longer be allowed to throw accusations and then disappear,” she a news conference after chairing the BN women’s wing meeting at Menara Dato Onn here.

She added that the women’s wing will send a memorandum to the Communications and Multimedia Ministry to show their support towards the proposals.

The former Women’s Minister said the wing wants the new laws to be in line with the “international benchmark”.

In June, then minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said “comprehensive” amendments to two communications laws drafted in 1998 will be tabled in Parliament in October, to strengthen the laws to suit the current “Internet landscape”, which has changed drastically since 17 years ago.

In April, it was reported that mechanisms are being worked out to monitor news portals and social media for sedition after amendments to the Sedition Act 1948 was passed.

They include stricter control over social media users, bloggers and news portals.

Last month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also announced his government will be introducing measures to restrict the Internet against irresponsible people.