PONTIAN: The Government will consider implementing a set of guidelines attached to the licences issued for cybercafes to prevent abuses like Internet casinos.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Ong Ka Ting said the guidelines would be used by local authorities when issuing the licences which will plug certain loopholes in the law.

At present, there were no set rules governing cybercafes and this was taken advantage of by unscrupulous operators.

"The Government has been encouraging the setting up of cybercafes to promote the use of the Internet.

"However, irresponsible quarters are taking advantage of this to promote virtual gambling.

"We are looking into the possibililty of coming up with some guidelines which will not interfere with the proper running of cybercafes but, at the same time, plug the loopholes," he said when opening a leadership youth camp organised by the Gerakan Belia Bersatu Malaysia here yesterday.

Ong said he supported the move by the IGP to use the Restricted Residence Act on errant owners and operators of cybercafes.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai said police were considering putting under restrictive residence owners of cybercafes who turned their premises into gambling dens.

Ong also said that local authorities had been directed to assist the police in this matter until the ministry obtained further instructions from the Cabinet pertaining to the proposed guidelines.

The Energy, Communication and Multimedia Ministry, too, is considering laws to regulate cybercafes.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho said the ministry would look first into requiring cybercafes to register with it.

"Then we can at least know how many cybercafes there are and whether we can have an Act to govern them," he said, admitting that the ministry had no authority on the matter.

However, Tan said the Government would continue to encourage the people to use the Internet and told Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to lower their charges.

Ultimately, there should be one computer in each household, he told reporters yesterday after launching My@HomepageShow2000.

Tan said there were now about 900,000 Internet subscribers throughout the country.