
Cyber threat spike: Gobind calls for global unity at Malaysia Cyber Games 2025
He said the surge highlights a critical need for a united international front in combating cybercrime.
'Cyber threats today are increasingly sophisticated and borderless. Ransomware attacks, data breaches and cyber-enabled frauds are escalating in frequency and complexity. The Cyber Games 2025 is a direct response to this need,' he said at the opening of the inaugural Cyber Games 2025 here today.
His speech text was delivered by Digital Ministry secretary-general Fabian Bigar.
Hosted by Malaysia in collaboration with the Council of Europe, INTERPOL and the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), the event has drawn 120 participants from 40 countries, including United Kingdom, Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Qatar, Morocco, Ukraine, Türkiye, Chile, Brazil, Armenia, Albania, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Singapore.
The four-day event marks the first-ever edition of the Cyber Games, a global platform designed to enhance international capacity, foster engagement and strengthen digital forensic capabilities among cybersecurity professionals.
Gobind said the initiative unites law enforcement professionals, investigators and digital forensic specialists in confronting simulated, high-pressure cyberattack scenarios, intending to improve global preparedness.
Participants will undergo real-time exercises covering digital forensics, blockchain analysis, open-source intelligence (OSINT), malware analysis, and incident response, all aimed at boosting resilience in the face of rising cybercrime threats.
The minister also noted that the Cyber Games coincided with Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025, during which the country made cybersecurity a top regional priority.
'As the Chair of ASEAN in 2025, we have placed cybersecurity and cybercrime at the forefront of our regional agenda. We are committed to driving policies and initiatives that bolster the ASEAN cyber ecosystem and promote trust in digital environments across member states,' he said.
Gobind also reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to strengthening legal frameworks, citing recent Cabinet approval for the nation's accession to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and the drafting of a new Cybercrime Bill expected to be tabled in Parliament by year-end.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
29 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Analyst: Malaysia leans on quiet engagement to seek favourable tariffs revision
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia remains locked in quiet engagement and possibly embracing a deliberate positioning with the United States (US) to lower the 25 per cent tariffs on its exports to the American markets as the Aug 1 deadline approaches. Unlike other Asean countries, which have struck quick deals with Washington, SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said Malaysia's more measured response to the impending US tariffs likely reflects deliberate positioning rather than passivity. He said that contrary to countries pursuing headline-grabbing diplomacy, Malaysia often leans on quiet engagement and multilateral cooperation to navigate complex trade tensions. With the Aug 1 deadline nearing, exporters and investors are keeping a close watch on the outcome of these negotiations, which would reshape the cost dynamics of doing business between Malaysia and its third-largest trading partner. While regional peers such as Indonesia and Vietnam have already struck last-minute deals to reduce their tariffs to 19 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, Malaysia is still seeking favourable terms that safeguard local industries without compromising national interests. The proposed tariffs — a revival of protectionist measures introduced during President Donald Trump's first term — have stirred fresh uncertainties across Southeast Asia, where economies are deeply embedded in global supply chains. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has described the ongoing talks with the US as progressing well, with emphasis on striking a balanced outcome. "This low-profile approach fits with Malaysia's broader strategy, namely maintaining economic openness, avoiding entanglement in great power rivalries, and preserving regional alignment within Asean. "By staying restrained, Malaysia may be aiming to protect its long-term credibility as a stable, rules-based partner," said Innes. That said, he cautioned that the exposure is real as Malaysia's export economy is heavily tilted toward electrical and electronic goods, precision machinery, and intermediate components, many of which plug directly into US-bound supply chains. A 25 per cent tariff could disrupt flows, especially in semiconductors, sensors, and specialised modules that are difficult to reroute, he said. "The pain would be felt most in hubs like Penang, where small and medium enterprises and multinationals are deeply intertwined. "While some firms could shift volumes elsewhere, the high-tech nature of these exports makes substitution harder than it sounds," said Innes. The absence of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US limits Malaysia's negotiating toolkit, but Innes believed it doesn't shut the door entirely. He pointed out that Malaysia remained strategically important to US firms seeking reliable, non-China supply bases, which provides leverage particularly if Malaysia targets exemptions for specific sectors tied to US industrial or security interests, such as chip packaging or electric vehicle components. While countries like Indonesia have dangled major purchases to secure tariff relief, Malaysia's options are different, Innes said. "It is unlikely to buy its way into a deal with big-ticket orders. Instead, it can offer alignment, which is co-investment opportunities in green tech, digital infrastructure, or rare-earth refining," he said. According to Innes, these would support Malaysia's industrial roadmap while offering Washington something it values: supply chain resilience and diversification, but from a policy standpoint, the trade-off is nuanced. He noted that offering short-term concessions or budget support might help shield critical sectors from long-term dislocation. "But any deal must be carefully structured. It should channel benefits beyond just large exporters towards local suppliers, workers, and tech development ecosystems," said Innes, highlighting that if no deal is reached, the impact may not be catastrophic at a national level, but could be meaningful in key sectors. "Export growth could slow, investment plans may be paused, and employment could tighten in affected industries. The greater risk is longer-term: losing ground in a global supply chain reshuffle that increasingly rewards agility and alignment. Malaysia still has room to move, but the window is closing," he added. Meanwhile, Moody's Analytics economist Denise Cheok said Malaysia's economic exposure to the US through value-added trade is more significant than headline export figures suggest. Citing calculations based on OECD Trade in Value Added (TiVA) data, Cheok said that Malaysian domestic value added embedded in foreign final demand to the US accounted for slightly over 5.0 per cent of the country's gross domestic product. She noted that this includes not only direct exports of final goods but also intermediate components that eventually reach the American consumers and provide a more comprehensive measure than gross exports alone. "This compares to over 9.0 per cent of GDP for Singapore, which is highly trade-exposed, and about 2.0 per cent of GDP for Indonesia, which is more domestically focused and not as reliant on exports to the US," Cheok said. If the full 25 per cent tariff is imposed without any rerouting of supply chains, Cheok estimates the impact could shave up to 2.6 per cent off Malaysia's GDP in 2025, with the effects likely to be uneven across sectors. "The key manufacturing sector is likely to be hit hard — not only by the direct impact of the tariffs but also by global supply chain disruptions caused by the uncertainty surrounding tariff policies," she said. Cheok added that Malaysia, like many of its Southeast Asian peers, relies heavily on exports as part of its growth model, and structural changes to this would be difficult, even in the long term. "The fractured relationship between the US and its trading partners will likely continue beyond the next three years, and Malaysia should continue strengthening its trade relations with other economies, including Asean, as a counterbalance to this," she said. — BERNAMA


The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
Thailand and Cambodia ceasefire talks begin in Malaysia
PUTRAJAYA: Thailand and Cambodia initiated ceasefire discussions on Monday as border tensions entered their fifth day, with over 200,000 civilians displaced by artillery and gunfire exchanges. The talks, held at Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's official residence, Seri Perdana, included delegations from the US and China. Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met shortly after 0700 GMT, following US President Donald Trump's intervention. Trump reportedly secured commitments from both leaders to 'quickly work out' a truce during late-night weekend calls. Malaysia, as the current ASEAN chair, is mediating the negotiations. However, hostilities persisted ahead of the meeting, with both sides exchanging fresh accusations. Phumtham claimed Bangkok doubted Phnom Penh's sincerity, while Cambodian defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata accused Thailand of continued territorial incursions with heavy weaponry. The disputed border region, home to ancient temples, has seen repeated clashes despite past ceasefire agreements. US State Department officials and a Chinese delegation were present at the talks, reflecting international interest in stabilising the conflict. – AFP


Daily Express
29 minutes ago
- Daily Express
Thailand-Cambodia peace talks begin in Putrajaya amid rising border tensions
Published on: Monday, July 28, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 28, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: PUTRAJAYA: The special meeting between Thailand and Cambodia, aimed at securing an immediate ceasefire and halting hostilities along the disputed border, began in Putrajaya on Monday. The special meeting, brokered by Malaysia and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his capacity as the current ASEAN Chair, is being held to de-escalate rising tensions and restore stability along the conflict-hit border areas. Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai arrived at Seri Perdana, the venue of the meeting, which is the official residence of the Malaysian prime minister, at about 2.51 pm followed shortly after by Cambodian leader Hun Manet. They were welcomed by Anwar. Also attending the meeting were US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard Kagan and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing, who are participating as co-facilitators. Last Friday, Anwar had called Phumtham and Manet separately, appealing for both leaders to seek an immediate ceasefire and return to dialogue to resolve their dispute. Anwar had said that Malaysia stands ready to assist and facilitate the process in the spirit of ASEAN unity and shared responsibility. The two Southeast Asian neighbours have a long history of diplomatic rows over an 817-kilometre undemarcated stretch of their shared border. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have been simmering since May 28 following a skirmish between their troops near the disputed Preah Vihear border area, which claimed the life of a Cambodian soldier. The latest round of hostilities erupted on July 24. Armed clashes have been reported along Cambodia's northern border region, with fatalities on both sides. To date, more than 20 people have been reported killed on the Thai side, while Cambodian authorities have confirmed the deaths of 13 people, including five soldiers in the conflict. Thousands of civilians on both sides of the border have been forced to evacuate. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia