Hot off the heels of Singapore’s Safer Cyberspace Masterplan, the Malaysian Government has announced a US$434 million (RM1.8 billion) Malaysia Cyber Security Strategy (MCSS) to upgrade the country’s cybersecurity measures.

The four-year strategy comprises five strategic pillars and 35 action plans, all of which will see strategic partnerships between the public and private sector to combat cybercrime.

The first pillar will look to boost the management of national governance and cybersecurity by improving Malaysia’s critical ICT infrastructure. The next pillar focuses on bolstering the enforcement of current cybersecurity laws by reviewing related legislation and formulating laws on cybersecurity.

The remaining pillars will empower innovation, improve cybersecurity skilled manpower in Malaysia and leveraging regional and international cooperation to protect the country’s cyberspace.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the development of cybersecurity initiatives is “timely”, given the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. 

When the country was placed under a Movement Control Order from March to June, Malaysia’s National Cyber Security Agency (NASCA) detected and dealt with a sharp rise in cyberattacks.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin also added that international cooperation is crucial in combating cyberthreats and detailed Malaysia’s active participation in such efforts.

“Malaysia has been supportive of cyber safety initiatives on both the regional and international platforms that have led to norm setting for cybersecurity in tandem with the Association of South-East Asian Nations, ASEAN Regional Forum, United Nations, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Commonwealth,” said Prime Minister Muhyiddin.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin said he looked forward to exploring further bilateral and multilateral relationships together with these organisations.

Under the MCSS, a National Cyber Security Committee has also been established, with Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob chairing the committee.

The MCSS will replace the current National Cyber Security Policy, which was implemented in 2006. NASCA and the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia will be tasked with implementing the action plans.

11 sectors classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure sectors by the KKMM are set to benefit from said plans. They include national defence and security, banking and finance, information and communications, energy, transportation, water, health services, government bodies, emergency services, and food and agriculture.

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