MALAYSIA is considering fast-tracking the adoption of quantum-resistant encryption technologies to safeguard national data against emerging cybersecurity threats posed by advances in quantum computing.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said he had instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to engage the National Security Council (MKN), National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) and telecommunications companies to explore potential cooperation.
The discussions would include establishing research and development (R&D) facilities to support a faster and more secure transition to quantum-resistant security systems, he said.
"Malaysia is considering accelerating the quantum migration process in our country, and I have asked MCMC to engage with MKN and NACSA, and discuss with telecommunications companies how we can work together to create an R&D space to implement quantum migration more quickly and securely," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after visiting several exhibition booths at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Doha 2026 yesterday, where he was briefed on technological innovations that could be adopted in Malaysia.
Fahmi said quantum-secure communications were among the developments that had attracted his attention, given their potential role in protecting sensitive data against future cybersecurity threats.
He warned that the commercial availability of quantum computing could undermine existing cryptographic systems, including encryption methods currently used to secure digital communications and data.
"I see quantum migration and quantum-secure communications as issues that many countries will have to confront.
"Quantum computing will become commercially available before too long, and this will pose a major challenge, particularly to cryptography and encryption methods used to ensure our data remains secure," he said.
Beyond quantum technology, Fahmi said the visit also provided an opportunity to examine other innovations, including the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into smart city services and security systems.
Quantum migration involves upgrading existing digital security infrastructure to adopt cryptographic technologies designed to withstand potential attacks from sufficiently advanced quantum computers. - November 9, 2026
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