Launch of Asean anti-terror digital centre in May, says Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will set up Asean’s first ever counter messaging centre to combat violent extremism in cyberspace, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the digital messaging centre was expected to begin operations on May 1.

“We are adopting the template used by the United States and the United Arab Emirates to establish the centre.

“The Government has allocated an initial RM200mil for this purpose,” he told reporters after closing the International Conference on Deradicalisation and Countering Violent Extremism (IDC 2016), here, Tuesday.

Zahid, also the Home Minister, said discussions were being held among three government agencies to manage the centre.

In his closing speech, Zahid said it was imperative for all nations to employ more effective strategies and commit more resources to counter radical narratives, including on digital platforms.

“Malaysia has moved ahead in developing a counter messaging centre in line with its efforts to counter extremism in cyberspace,” he said.

The two-day conference saw experts from Asean countries and their strategic partners such as the United States, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Australia sharing their respective countries’ experiences in deradicalisation and rehabilitation programmes.

Malaysia and the United States agreed to set up the centre in November last year after the meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the 27th Asean Summit.