Malaysia must stay ahead of cyberattacks, not just react to them, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized the importance of anticipating cybersecurity threats rather than merely reacting to them. The government is bolstering the nation's cybersecurity preparedness by prioritizing proactive measures to counter increasingly sophisticated and complex cyber threats that could target various sectors, including banking and critical institutions.

Anwar, who moderated the 14th Series of the Malaysia Madani Intellectual Forum, stressed that countries with advanced security infrastructures, like Europe, are not immune to cyberattacks. Consequently, the government convened a National Security Council (NSC) meeting to assess the current capabilities in addressing cybersecurity threats, and briefed Members of Parliament with detailed briefings.

Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, the Chief Secretary to the Government, also met with ministry secretaries-general, directors-general, and senior officials to coordinate comprehensive preparations for potential cyber intrusions. Anwar highlighted the significance of the forum as a platform for obtaining diverse views, criticisms, and suggestions from academics, researchers, private industry players, and government officials to help evaluate and improve policies and national program implementation.

He stressed that thorough preparation is crucial as cyberattacks often manifest in various forms, and not all can be detected early.