In a significant move to bolster the nation’s cyber defence capabilities, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced the establishment of a national 5G cybersecurity testing centre by Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) and Cybersecurity Malaysia (CSM).
DNB and CSM will also be working together to enhance Malaysia’s digital infrastructure by developing comprehensive 5G security guidelines, according to NST.
These guidelines will serve as fundamental requirements for the industry and act as guiding principles for future 5G infrastructure baselines.
Gobind said this collaboration will not only establish a 5G cybersecurity testing centre but also facilitate the exchange of threat intelligence information between DNB and CSM.
He also added that this will significantly strengthen the nation’s ability to combat cyber threats.
Besides that, Gobind highlighted that Malaysia faces hundreds of millions of virus attacks annually, compromising numerous systems and user information.
The nation is also facing an alarming rise in local cybercrime cases, which nearly doubled from 10,753 in 2018 to 19,175 in 2022.
The Cyber Security Act 2024, gazetted by the Attorney General’s Chambers last June, is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing the nation’s cybersecurity.
The Act mandates compliance with specific measures, standards, and processes for managing cybersecurity threats and the establishment of the National Cyber Security Committee.
Gobind emphasised that this legislative framework marks a major milestone in strengthening Malaysia’s cyber defences and enhancing resilience against emerging threats.
“The act, along with more awareness and vigilance among Malaysian digital consumers, as well as collaborative efforts will certainly help to protect us,” he said.
In March 2024, BlackBerry established a Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Kuala Lumpur, aimed at providing cybersecurity training and threat intelligence to Malaysia and its regional partners in the Indo-Pacific area.