Cybercrime Bill Aimed at Combating Online Threats, Not Silencing Dissent: Zaliha

KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed Cybercrime Bill will serve to combat online criminal activities and not be used as a political weapon, said Datuk Seri Dr. Zaliha Mustafa, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories).

In a written parliamentary reply on Friday (Oct 10), Dr. Zaliha assured that the bill would not restrict freedom of speech nor lead to excessive government surveillance of citizens.

“Its main objective is to handle cyber crimes effectively,” she said, emphasizing that the government remains committed to protecting both public safety and civil liberties.

Responding to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN–Ayer Hitam), who sought guarantees that the bill would not be misused for political purposes, Dr Zaliha stressed that existing and future laws apply equally to all, regardless of background or political affiliation.

She explained that the new Cybercrime Bill is designed to replace the outdated Computer Crimes Act 1997, which has remained largely unchanged since its introduction nearly three decades ago. The updated framework will cover both cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crimes, reflecting the growing complexity of digital threats.

“The Bill seeks to enhance Malaysia’s capacity to address emerging cyber challenges such as online scams, data breaches, and cyber attacks on critical government information systems,” she added.

A technical committee comprising representatives from key ministries, the Royal Malaysia Police, Bank Negara Malaysia, and the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) has been established to coordinate the bill’s development and implementation.

Dr Zaliha also noted that the draft legislation is being aligned with international standards to ensure Malaysia’s cyber laws meet global best practices.

“The drafting of this Bill is timely to ensure that our domestic legislation keeps pace with technological advancements and effectively addresses modern cyber threats,” she said.

The Cybercrime Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament soon as part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen national cybersecurity and protect citizens from digital crimes.