Malaysia takes lead on Asean's regional cybersecurity plan
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.
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