Malaysia leads Asean cybersecurity charge
As chair of Asean this year, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia has put cybersecurity at the heart of the regional agenda.
As such, Ahmad Zahid called for the upcoming Asean Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy to prioritise real-time collaboration among member states in areas such as incident response, digital forensics, secure data sharing 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 (Cydes) 2025 here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Themed 'Advancing Cyber Resilience', Cydes 2025 is organised by the National Security Council (Prime Minister's Department) and National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa), in collaboration with Alpine Integrated Solution Sdn Bhd.
Cydes 2025 gathers 70 international delegations from 20 nations alongside five global organisations, underscoring confidence in Malaysia's efforts to foster a more secure, cooperative and responsive cybersecurity environment.
Referencing the Cisco 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, he noted that 93% of organisations experienced AI-driven cyberattacks over the past year, yet only 51% of employees have a clear understanding of such threats.
Building on this, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) continues to play a vital role in producing industry-ready talent and promoting social mobility within the cybersecurity sector.
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