The Home Ministry would act if the writings by individuals could create disharmony in society or a bad situation in the country, said its minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the ministry would be at the forefront in avoiding such a situation from occurring.

"But if that happens and we take action, don't accuse us of being cruel as we are upholding the law to prevent chaos in the country...that is the duty of the ministry and its agencies," he said in his new year message at the
ministry's monthly assembly, here, today.

Ahmad Zahid said some writings deliberately contained lies and baseless accusations to create disharmony and such a situation was favoured by certain quarters, more so if the accusations involved the home ministry.

"People in the ministry will read and study the words used in the writings and it will act if the news reports or writings could create an adverse situation in the country.

"We don't want this country to be in turmoil and the home ministry is at the forefront in preventing this from happening."

Ahmad Zahid advised the ministry's personnel to be steadfast and not to fear in carrying out their task of maintaining peace and harmony in the country, although they were often wrongly accused and portrayed negatively in some writings.

He said in the era of a borderless world, the ministry and its agencies' staff should realise the emergence of the "spinning" culture, where accusing and defaming others was an enjoyment for the perpetrators.

"Not everyone is happy with our work, not all feel protected and often only bad things are written about our work. But we must remember that criticism and baseless accusations come with the job."

He said such accusations might be made on the support or instigation of certain quarters to divert attention from the actions taken by the ministry.