Special Cyber Court to start operations in September

Azalina Othman

PETALING JAYA: The Cabinet has received a proposal to establish a Special Cyber Court to judge criminal offences under the cyber laws, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman.

She said the proposed Special Cyber Court will operate like other special courts, such as the ones for corruption, anti-profiteering and the environment.

“Specialised judges will hear cases relating to cyber laws,” Azalina said in a statement Wednesday.

She said the first phase will see the Special Cyber Court start operations in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur in September.

The next phase will see the court operational in Selangor and Johor, she said, adding that this is because the three areas had recorded the highest number of cyber crime cases.

Azalina said the final phase will see the court expand to include other states.

"Judges and various parties involved will be given comprehensive and sufficient training to ensure the court can function well,” said Azalina.

She said the Government thinks the time is right for the creation of a Special Cyber Court following an alarming trend of cyber attacks, such as hacking, online scams, botnets, web defacement, information theft, spying, cyber gambling, pornography and others.

“The Government is also taking into account the views of various concerned parties, including NGOs,” she said.

She said a Cabinet memorandum on the issue will be debated soon, adding that Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria has also been informed about the matter.