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The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia faces rising cyber threats as incidents increase
Malaysia is experiencing a more sophisticated and aggressive wave of cyber threats, with 2,366 incidents reported in the first half of 2025, says the National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa). Nacsa's chief executive Ir Dr Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin, said cyberattacks are no longer solely targeting critical infrastructure or institutions. 'These attacks increasingly target our most vulnerable population, including children, the elderly, and digitally inexperienced users,' he said during his keynote address at the Cybersecurity Summit 2025 on Friday (July 25). Organised by Star Media Group and supported by IDMeta as the bronze sponsor, the summit carried the theme 'Securing Malaysia's Digital Future.' Megat said in 2024, Nacsa's National Cyber Coordination and Command Centre (NC4) recorded 4,626 cybersecurity incidents, a 43% increase from the previous year. 'In the first half of 2025 alone, 2,366 incidents involving National Critical Information Infrastructure (NCII) were reported. 'These figures underscore the urgent need to strengthen national cyber hygiene and awareness,' Megat added. He said cybersecurity is a critical national priority and should no longer be seen as merely a technical issue. 'Today's cyber threats don't simply target systems and software. They exploit something far more human, our trust, our habits, and the gaps between institutions,' Megat said. CyberSecurity Malaysia's chief executive officer, Datuk Ts Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab, joined the call for stronger safeguards, warning that digitalisation and emerging technologies, while transformative, also introduce new vulnerabilities. 'The more connected we are, the more exposed we become to the threat of cyber attacks,' he said. Amirudin emphasised the need for organisations to go beyond prevention and focus on cyber resilience, which is the ability to respond, recover, and resume operations swiftly after an attack. He also highlighted the importance of building a secure, resilient, and trusted cyber ecosystem through greater collaboration among regulators, industry players, academia, and international stakeholders. Sarbnedhan Singh Sandhu of the Securities Commission Malaysia warned that compliance alone doesn't ensure security. He stressed the need for well-enforced frameworks aligned to business risks, noting that weak controls often lead to breaches. Meanwhile, Securemetric Technology Sdn Bhd managing director Wo Swee Teck said generative artificial intelligence (AI) introduces serious risks. He noted that effective risk mitigation depends on implementing strong cybersecurity measures, enforcing strict privacy safeguards, and ensuring continuous validation of AI models. The one-day event gathered industry experts to address the country's most pressing cybersecurity concerns, including the emerging risks of generative AI, vulnerabilities in operational technology (OT) systems, talent shortages, and the growing importance of digital trust in a hyperconnected world. The summit also showcased actionable strategies, regulatory frameworks, and real-world case studies aimed at enhancing cyber resilience across all sectors. This year's edition featured more than 19 distinguished speakers and attracted over 80 participants, including C-level executives, IT security professionals, regulators, cybercrime investigators, and representatives from sectors such as telecommunications, finance, logistics, and technology startups. Looking ahead, the CloudTech & DataCentre Conference 2.0, scheduled for Aug 6–7, will further explore strategies to position Malaysia as a regional hub for sustainable, high-tech data centres while advancing digital resilience.
New Straits Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Malaysia takes lead on Asean's regional cybersecurity plan
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is leading the development of the Asean Cyber Security Cooperation Strategy 2026-2030, which will be presented at the upcoming Asean Summit. The roadmap aims to bolster collective resilience in a rapidly digitising region. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia, As Asean chair, has placed cybersecurity at the heart of the regional agenda, reinforcing its leadership in global cybersecurity engagement. However, Zahid said, Asean countries differ in how they define, investigate, and prosecute cybercrimes, a gap that continues to widen as technology evolves, allowing cybercriminals to exploit cross-border inconsistencies. "To address this, I urge that the Asean Cyber Security Cooperation Strategy 2026–2030 include a dedicated focus on enabling real-time collaboration among member states, particularly in incident response, digital forensics, secure data exchange, and policy harmonisation. "These mechanisms must uphold the principles of confidentiality, sovereignty, and mutual trust, which are essential in managing sensitive and transboundary cybersecurity threats," he said in his speech at the Cyber Defence and Security Exhibition and Conference here today. Also present was Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir. Zahid said Malaysia's National Cyber Coordination and Command Centre recorded 4,626 cybersecurity incidents in 2024 - a 43 per cent increase from the previous year. In just the first half of 2025, he said 294 incidents were reported, including 133 involving entities under the National Critical Information Infrastructure. "These figures underscore the urgent need to strengthen national cyber hygiene and awareness. "As threats become more sophisticated, readiness and responsible digital behaviour are no longer optional — they are our first line of defence," he said. Zahid said Malaysia is committed to advancing its cybersecurity, especially as the threat landscape evolves rapidly. Citing the Cisco 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, he said 93 per cent of organisations reported facing AI-driven attacks in the past year, yet only 51 per cent of employees understand these threats. "Building on this, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) continues to play a vital role in producing industry-ready talent and advancing social mobility in the cybersecurity sector. "Malaysia's TVET ecosystem must now evolve into a globally recognised, high-skilled talent pipeline that drives real economic impact. "A focused upskilling initiative, led by the National Cyber Security Agency, should serve as a key enabler in this transformation," he said.
