The setting up of a special surveillance or "spy" system to counter elements which threaten national security through the Internet is not only too costly but would defeat its purpose, Internet expert Dinesh Nair said today.

"You will find that the filter is not going to be effective since people will find other ways to get around it," he said when contacted this afternoon.

Dinesh was responding to reports in the newspapers today that quoted Minister in Prime Minister's Department Rais Yatim as saying that Malaysia must have a system to monitor and prevent the spread of elements which could jeopardise national security.

The minister cited the case of Britain where the government had spent RM192 million to install a "scrambler" to screen Internet traffic which threatened its security.

"The Internet is a very large network. Although it is not impossible, to install a filter is a very difficult and daunting task. No matter how you do it, people are going to find alternative ways such as anonymiser services and encryption schemes," Dinesh said.

Dinesh, together with a colleague, received a RM50,000 reward after they won a challenge by Singaporean company Asia Connect in 1996. The company had vowed that its server was secure and issued a challenge that those who could break into it would be awarded the prize money.

Dinesh added that the government should instead feed the Internet with information it deems good about the country and its culture.

"Never try to cut out information from the Internet. Instead counter it with good information. Show our way of life through it," he said.

Meanwhile, IT news provider MSCTimes.com's editor, Oon Yeoh, said a surveillance system would only drive foreign investors away.

"It seems like on one hand, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed is promoting the Multimedia Super Corridor, but on the other hand, government ministers are saying this and that about the Internet. Their statements are contradictory," he told malaysiakini.

Oon urged the minister to clarify what he meant by stating that the encroachment of culture and values through the Internet could lead to the weakening of the nation.

"What does the minister mean by that? The encroachment of culture and values can be interpreted as anything. It is an ambiguous statement," Oon said.

He added that although every country had the right to prevent crime and threats that could jeopardise national security, having a spy system to screen the Internet would only raise concerns about privacy.

"I think the main issue that the people are concerned with is privacy. This issue is simply not within the country's vision," he said.