Saifuddin Nasution: ASEAN must work closer together to combat growing cybercrime threats
Saifuddin Nasution said these crimes have emerged as a serious and pressing challenge in today's digital age.
'It clearly shows us that this is not just a future problem; it is a pressing issue right now. Our digital defences must evolve as fast as technology does.
'This means we must adopt new technologies, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), to significantly improve how we detect, prevent and enforce laws against these crimes,' he said when opening the 25th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crimes (SOMTC) and Its Related Meetings here today.
However, Saifuddin Nasution noted that technology alone is not enough, stressing that the true strength of the collective response lies in trust, information-sharing and building each other's capabilities even as new tools are embraced.
He called on ASEAN member states to strengthen collaboration through platforms such as the SOMTC to ensure regional efforts keep pace with fast-evolving cyber threats.
Malaysia, he said, remains committed to working closely with ASEAN partners to safeguard the region's digital landscape.
'This is crucial for our shared goals of peace, safety and stability in the region. We believe this is not just something we should do; it's something we must do,' he said.
Saifuddin Nasution emphasised that in today's increasingly fragmented global environment, international cooperation remains the cornerstone of regional stability.
He said such cooperation is not only vital in addressing shared security threats but also in preserving economic resilience and maintaining public trust in institutions.
'We believe that not choosing sides is not a sign of passivity. It is, in fact, a strategic approach that protects our collective credibility, preserves our sovereignty and strengthens our unity.
'ASEAN's strength has always stemmed from its unity and inclusivity in diversity,' he said.
He added that ASEAN must now ensure its commitment to consensus is matched by a readiness to act decisively in the face of evolving challenges.
'What we need is not only alignment but also courage to confront new and hybrid threats, courage to reform outdated mechanisms, courage to make bold policy decisions in the interest of our people's safety and dignity,' he said.
He also recalled Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's remarks at the opening of the 46th ASEAN Summit last month urging member states to be both practical and principled, to look ahead with optimism and to act with firm determination in navigating regional and global challenges.
Regarding SOMTC, Saifuddin Nasution described it as more than just a routine gathering but a strong reflection of ASEAN's collective commitment to combating transnational crime.
He said the meeting plays an important role in strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing enforcement efforts and encouraging the exchange of best practices in addressing crimes that cross national borders. — BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Economic and trade empowerment
ROME: Italy is looking to Malaysia to partner with, in its quest to level up in the economic and trade sectors, says Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani. Tajani, who is also Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, said Malaysia is one of the most progressive nations around with whom it had been building partnerships in the two sectors. 'The relations between Italy and Malaysia have always been good. Now, we look to build it further,' he said at a courtesy call to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim here. He reiterated what Anwar said earlier about the importance of having peace and stability as the foundation to support and grow the business sector. 'We have many big companies and we are ready for joint ventures and investments abroad. 'Italy is also the second most industrious country in Europe,' he said, adding that this only meant Italy had a lot to offer. Anwar said Malaysia is an excellent partner to have since it has policies that are dynamic and clear. He said PETRONAS, being one of the top companies globally, is more than ready to move together with the European nation. Asean, he said as regional chair, is the most peaceful area in the world and economically most promising. Next-level ventures: Anwar shaking hands with Tajani during a courtesy call in Rome. The PM is on a three-day official visit to Italy, with the highlight of the trip being a meeting with his counterpart, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. — Bernama 'This will certainly pave the way for a greater cooperation.' He expressed gratitude for Tajani's visit as it reflected both nations' commitment to strengthen bilateral relations based on mutual respect and understanding. 'We have been talking about expanding our cooperation in various fields, including relations between Asean and the European Union,' he added. Anwar said they also spoke about regional and global conflicts including that in Gaza, Ukraine, Iran and Israel. He also spoke about his admiration for the rich Italian history, literature and art. He mentioned how touched he was when reading about Dante's Inferno, listening to the world-famous song Caruso and how the works of Leonardo da Vinci had impacted the world. His remarks brought loud and appreciative applause from the Italian audience at the meeting. He said he watched how Italy transformed itself, embracing the AI (artificial intelligence) realm, 'and I look forward to increasing cooperation with Italy'. Anwar also met the Muslim community in Rome headed by Italian Muslim Community Association deputy president Imam Yahya Pallavicini and Italian Cultural Centre secretary-general Abdellah Redouane to exchange ideas on strengthening the community's development. Earlier, the Prime Minister met translator Andrea Fais and Stefano Bonilauri, publisher of The Asian Renaissance, written almost 30 years ago. 'I'm touched that they chose to translate this into Italian,' Anwar said of his book that spoke about the rise of the Asian civilisation through culture, education and justice in the face of Western dominance. 'This effort will undoubtedly close the gap between Western and Eastern understanding, especially in a divisive world we live in.'
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Contractors to be chosen for second cross-border bridge project
NARATHIWAT: Construction of the second bridge connecting Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, and Sungai Golok here is progressing as planned, with the Thai authorities currently in the process of selecting a contractor to carry out the project. Sungai Golok Highway Division assistant officer Teetuch Mad-adum (pic) said the contractor selection process is expected to be completed by September at the latest, in line with the timeline agreed upon by Malaysia and Thailand. 'We are confident that a suitable contractor will be identified by September, with the initial shortlist involving 10 companies,' he said. Teetuch added that the six-lane bridge, which will be built parallel to the existing Muhibbah Bridge, is expected to have a significant impact on local economic development and further strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Thailand. 'The purpose of this bridge is to widen the existing route. Once completed, it will improve the flow of economic activity and ease cross-border movement,' he said, adding that the completion of the bridge will also have an impact on nearby illegal jetties. He said there had been no objections from local residents regarding the project, and all studies conducted so far indicated no negative impact. 'This bridge is being built specifically to stimulate economic growth, and the entire process has proceeded smoothly without any major obstacles,' he said, Bernama reported. On financing, Teetuch said the construction cost would be shared by both countries, with Malaysia allocating RM17mil and Thailand RM32mil, which includes related infrastructure upgrades. He added that construction is expected to begin as early as September, following the contractor selection, or by December at the latest, with completion targeted within 36 months. Previously, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the project involves building a new 117.3m bridge parallel to the existing structure, along with upgrading works on the Muhibbah Bridge. In April, the media reported that the Thai Cabinet had approved the construction of a second bridge across Sungai Golok. Thailand is Malaysia's seventh-largest global trading partner and the third-largest within Asean. In 2024, bilateral trade between the two countries reached US$25.03bil (RM114.56bil). For the period January to February 2025, trade increased to US$3.96bil (RM17.65bil), up from US$3.67bil (RM16.80bil) in the same period last year.
Malay Mail
5 hours ago
- Malay Mail
SST goldmine ignored as Bersatu hides backstage till GE kicks off
JULY 3 — Remember Margaret Thatcher. She beat the unions, Argentinians and male chauvinists in her party to leave her imprint on British politics far beyond her 11 years in office. However, the Iron Lady got beat by her enthusiasm for a new tax — the universally derided poll tax — in 1990. Two Universiti Malaya classmates were Johor menteri besar and education minister then, when Maggie had to go. They'd remember her well especially as she was in Kuala Lumpur for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting a year earlier. Then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad made a meal of it. A bit like the ongoing overexuberance for the Asean chairmanship. Anyways, fast forward 35 years, Anwar Ibrahim is prime minister, and Muhyiddin Yassin is the man yearning to beat him and assume his second term in office. Whether Muhyiddin is waiting for a telegram or email is uncertain, but his Bersatu and its coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) seem stuck in neutral. Unaware that an upgraded tax system has been unveiled, went 'live' two days ago, and is an unbearable bane for many on social media. Many in political parlance are great. Political parties are in the business of procuring votes. More so the many referred to here are in the millions. A large number of Malaysians are upset — though to be fair, it's rare for people to break into celebratory dancing when new taxes are introduced. What is not far behind is increases to quit rents for urban local councils. That'll add more to those already upset. Yet, the party expected to stalk the Unity Government appears to be sulking in corners unknown. Blue, not white: Bersatu the bridesmaid The worst kept secret in Parliament is that PAS, not Bersatu, controls the Opposition bench. However, Bersatu is expected to bring the legislative substance. But Bersatu only holds 25 MPs from 222 in the chamber. PAS has double the presence but prefers Bersatu to lead the coalition. Which damages both sides. PAS is not able to raise the bar at the federal level when leading four states. Bersatu, meanwhile, skirts around to champion issues they do care for and the ones PAS can live with. The SST is a clear matter which bisects both considerations, but indecision dogs both parties. PAS is dogmatic about how to go about issues, as in start-stop. It always reserves the right to change its mind. In the Pakatan Rakyat days (2009-2015), the coalition got bogged down constantly, its momentum squashed down because PAS asked for a pause if Umno invited it for a dialogue. Bersatu ducks SST backlash as tax pain spreads — but can silence win votes? — Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri Bersatu, to begin with, is not Captain Action. But they both have convinced supporters, because the Islamists live off 40 years of dominant influence in religious education, and Bersatu relies on 70 years of institutionalised xenophobia — even if their targets were long ago promoted by citizenship — encouraged by Umno. Bersatu characterises themselves as the unblemished original Umno, not very different to Mel Gibson supported by traditionalist Catholics which feel today's Vatican is too woke, soft and given in to the modern world. PAS has its base. Secured and larger base to Bersatu's, which hopes their version of traditionalist Malays will win the day on election day. Bersatu are adamant to be Malay nationalists, unaware that's a misnomer. For a Malay nation is no more a proper destination since the formation of Malaysia. They were supposed to ascend to Malaysian nationalism, unfortunately they fell into the communalism-mutes-patriotism trap. On the day, they'll show up The Bersatu strategy, to use the term loosely, is to wait till general election day. That the mistrust of Umno, the mistrust of Umno working with DAP, the mistrust of PMX, the mistrust of Anwar's relationship with Zahid Hamidi and any number of mistrusts, fester to a point of unbearable pain till it irrevocably leads votes to them. That's a lot of hoping. It also renders obsolete the work of political strategists. Bersatu stands on the shoulders of ethnocentrism and PAS' durability to remain relevant but the water around them has risen with a changed landscape. In Peninsula, there are only that many Hulu Selangor and Bukit Gelugor to win reliant on Malay votes split three ways. The Umno-PKR bromance translates to a different proposition to Malays who have Malay-ness as a key vote consideration, as the choices are binary now. PN or Unity. Hulu Selangor and Bukit Gelugor look a whole lot harder to keep. Second, there is no PN in Borneo. All previous pretences have evaporated and Borneo has abandoned the Malay agenda. That is why the ownership of Malay reserve land, the status of Kampung Baru, the elevation of DAP in government and Chinese long-term residents in our cities, are the issues for now. The low hanging fruit in the Garden of Eden SST seems like a cat Bersatu struggles to skin. To foreign observers it may be a no-brainer but to one-trick-pony Bersatu, it sticks to Malay pride. The thing about the well-crafted, honed and nurtured race-before-all origins of Umno which Bersatu intends to inherit wholly is that it prohibits other offerings and imagination. To be tribal dismembers the ability to see beyond misgivings about British Malaya's demography. Bersatu's raison d'être disables its capacity to grow as a multipurpose driven opposition riding the issues of the day to be government. Umno was never good as an opposition bloc for the same reason. Look at its wilderness years between 2018-2020 till a Pakatan government collapse. Despite all the recriminations, Bersatu and Umno are no different. Except one is in government, and knows how to behave in it, and the other out of government and only knows how to be angsty about not being in government. That them not being in government means Malays are shortchanged. So, it remains myopic about cost-of-living issues permeating from the SST. Perhaps Bersatu sidestepping SST as a central campaign driver is a masterstroke. Perhaps this column is too liberal and worldly to truly comprehend the single mindedness of the Malay mind which Bersatu seeks to placate. Maybe. But that cow has not enough milk presently. The SST has a remarkable character, it hurts not on colour or religion. It affects all voters. That's a lot of voters. But then again, Bersatu is not built for all voters. It sells sentiments, not ideas. It thinks this is not Britain and PMX not Thatcher. Wonder what the sentiment is when they are proven wrong at GE16. * This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
