KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (AFP) - Malaysia may introduce cyberlaws to curb offers of sex on the Internet, a minister said Monday.

Such laws have already been enforced in Europe and the United States as part of efforts to curb prostitution and child pornography, said Rais Yatim, a minister in the prime minister's department in charge of legal affairs.

He was quoted by the national news agency Bernama as saying that it might take some time before such cyberlaws could be imposed.

He said such laws were not needed in the short-term as no locals were found to be involved in cybersex crimes. Those caught promoting prostitution and child porn on the Internet could still be charged under current laws, he added.

Rais was commenting on reports that Malaysians, Russians and French nationals were among those involved in a child pornography ring in Italy.

Italy on Friday brought formal charges against 831 suspects in the production of child pornography videos. Another 660 people in Europe, Malaysia and the United States were also put under investigation after Italian police set up a bogus child-sex site on the Internet.

Rais said Italy had not sought permission to detain the Malaysians alleged to be involved. He said local authorities have so far not detected any Malaysians involved in child pornography but added that legal action would be taken against those who were.