KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 should be reviewed to ensure cybersecurity breaches, including personal data leaks, are sufficiently handled by the force of law, said Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
The communications and multimedia minister in a statement today said he has directed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to revisit the act, and expressed hope that a thorough investigation will be conducted into an alleged data leak at a government agency.
“It is imperative for the ministry and MCMC to study the alleged data leak.
“For the said case, no stone must be left unturned. Cyber forensic studies must be conducted to find out how it happened.”
He said the alleged incident should serve as an eye-opener.
“CyberSecurity Malaysia’s role as a specialist and technical agency under the ministry’s purview is to provide a broad range of cybersecurity innovation-led services, programmes and initiatives to reduce the vulnerability of digital systems, and at the same time, strengthen Malaysia’s self-reliance in cyberspace.
“Furthermore, as a technical expert, CyberSecurity Malaysia requires a strong legal framework such as a cybersecurity law to address today’s challenges.”
Personal data protection should be given more attention if Malaysia intends to become a digital hub in Asean, he said, pointing to the need to build confidence not only among users, but also investors.
“One of the most important aspects of building this confidence is addressing cybersecurity issues seriously.
“With the world undergoing digitalisation, there is an urgent need for us to create an ecosystem where cybersecurity is of paramount importance.” – Bernama, October 1, 2021
