Malaysia is destined to lead in cybersecurity, said Anwar

Malaysia is in a position to lead in cybersecurity and should benefit from its ASEAN chairmanship.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the National Cybersecurity Committee supports the efforts of the National Cybersecurity Agency (NACSA) to continue leading initiatives to strengthen the cybersecurity of the nation, especially in protecting the National Critical Information Infrastructure (NCII).

As part of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, he received information about the upcoming Cyber Defense and Security Exhibition and Conference (CYDES) 2025, as well as the development of the new Malaysia Cyber Security Strategy (2025–2030) to support cybersecurity-related plans and activities.

“This afternoon, while chairing the second National Cyber Security Committee meeting for 2024, I delivered a presentation on the increasingly complex and challenging state of the country’s cybersecurity.”

The meeting also decided that NACSA should supervise the establishment of the National Cryptography Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), providing opportunities for researchers from other colleges to participate.

“This center must be inclusive, involving experts, intellectuals, and the private sector to ensure Malaysia stays ahead in cryptographic technology,” he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Dec 18).

Anwar has previously stated that Malaysia’s cybersecurity performance pales in comparison to other countries.

This, he said, led the government to draft a cybersecurity bill to handle the problem and cybersecurity rules.

Anwar further pointed out that even though the nation has an abundance of professionals in the field, it is crucial to guarantee consistency between the academic sector, industrial demands, and the top priority of protecting the cybersecurity ecosystem of the nation.

“The conference also decided that Malaysia should sign the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime and the Budapest Convention to show its will to fight cybercrime both locally and abroad.

“I also indicated my support for writing a fresh cybercrime law to replace the Computer Crimes Act 1997,” he stated.