ASEAN Chairmanship Serves As Malaysia's Platform To Head Cyber Security Development - Academicians

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia as ASEAN chair can play a role in heading the development of cyber security diplomacy in the region.

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Centre For Media And information Warfare Studies (CMIWS), Psychological Operations fellow Dr Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said cyber security diplomacy can close the digital literacy gap in terms of cyber security among ASEAN countries and help enforcement elements involving regional cyber crime.

“ASEAN can create cyber security diplomacy using Malaysia’s experience and develop a specific platform involving ASEAN countries like Interpol to investigate and ensure issues such as cyber security abuses are tackled properly through cyber security diplomacy.

“European Union countries are ahead in developing frameworks based on stronger Acts. This is where it’s vital for ASEAN to head cyber security diplomacy to form a safer Internet network ecosystem and ensure cross cyber security diplomacy by ASEAN countries works better in tackling issues such as radical and subversive threats,” he told Bernama, adding that if realised, it would burnish Malaysia’s image in regional cyber security.

Meanwhile UiTM Computing, Informatics and Mathematics College senior lecturer Dr Mohsen Mohamad Hata said online safety was vital as it was a platform used by people to communicate and access information.

Awareness in ensuring etiquette and responsibilities of users and platform providers are raised is vital in tackling threats before they become attacks.

“Cyber security technology needs to be more innovative to become a defence against complex and sophisticated threats,” he said, adding that several government initiatives, including the drafting of several Acts and amendments relating to online safety showed the country was on the right track in strengthening online safety.

He added that such efforts would require involvement by all parties to ensure initiatives were effective and successful.

Meanwhile Malaysian Cyber Consumers Association (MCCA) Siraj Jalil felt that digital literacy required to be formalised in the national education system.

Through information in classrooms, students can serve as sub-agents in delivering anything they learned to family members who are less knowledgeable about digital apps and technology, he said.

“Amendments or improvements to laws done by the government is less effective if consumers don’t understand them.

“So digital literacy education to support amendments can lead to the effectiveness of such laws,” he said.

Today (Feb 11) is Internet Security Day, which falls on the second day of the second week of February, and celebrated in over 200 countries globally.

The theme for Malaysia this year is “Kepercayaan Digital: Membina Komuniti Berdaya Tahan”.

-- BERNAMA