Vital For Malaysia To Prioritise Cybersecurity - PM Anwar

PUTRAJAYA, July 30 (Bernama) -- Cybersecurity should be a priority as Malaysia lags behind other countries, necessitating training, expertise and collaboration with cyber intelligence agencies to address these challenges, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said several strict measures are necessary, including new regulations aimed at tackling online crime and cyberbullying, to create a safer virtual environment for users.

Anwar noted that the government has introduced the Cybersecurity Bill, and recently, the Communications Minister and the Digital Minister have focused on ensuring online safety for both domestic and international users.

"Yesterday, in Ipoh, I addressed the question of whether this might restrict freedom. This country is a democracy, and freedom must be given for people to voice their views, whether they agree, criticise or oppose," he said.

“There is a difference when digital and social media are used, for instance, to abuse people leading to suicides, or to exploit children for sexual trade. Is this justified? There are scams amounting to RM2.5 billion, with people being deceived through social media.”

“When we say restrictions are necessary, some argue against limiting freedom. Is freedom for deception, stealing, or abusing people until they commit suicide justified? These are issues that the public needs to understand, hence the focus on personal safety,” he said when launching the National Security Month 2024 here today.

Last Sunday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said that new legislation to enhance digital security will include provisions related to the procedures and enforcement of a kill switch. It will be tabled in Parliament this October.

She said that the law will, among other things, place responsibility on social media and internet messaging service providers to address online crimes such as fraud, cyberbullying, distribution of child sexual abuse material, and sexual harassment and grooming.

The day before, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced that social media and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia will need to apply for an Application Service Provider Class Licence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).

According to MCMC, this requirement will be enforced starting Jan 1, following the introduction of a new regulatory framework for social media and internet messaging services on Aug 1.

-- BERNAMA