Revisit MCMC Act to ensure cybersecurity breaches can be handled by force of law, says Annuar

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The Communications and Multimedia (MCMC) Act should be reviewed to ensure that cybersecurity breaches such as personal data leakage can be handled by force of law with gravity, says Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

In a statement Friday (Oct 1), the Communications and Multimedia Minister said he had directed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to revisit the MCMC Act 1998, and hoped that a thorough investigation would be conducted on the alleged leak by a government agency.

"It is imperative for ministry and MCMC to study the alleged data leakage by the said government agency.

"For the said case, no stone must be left unturned during investigations, including cyber forensics studies to find out how such leaks happened," he said.

He noted that the alleged leak of personal data at the government agency should be an eye-opener.

"CyberSecurity Malaysia's role as the specialist and technical agency under the purview of the ministry, is to provide a broad range of cybersecurity innovation-led services, programs and initiatives to reduce the vulnerability of digital systems, and at the same time strengthen Malaysia's self-reliance in cyberspace.

"Furthermore, as a technical expert, CyberSecurity Malaysia requires a strong legal framework such as cybersecurity law to address cybersecurity challenges in today's digital technology development," he said.

Besides, he also said personal data protection should be given more attention if Malaysia intends to become one of the main digital centres among Asean countries.

This is required to build confidence not only among the users but also the investors, he said.

"One of the most important aspects of building such confidence is to address cybersecurity issues seriously.

"With the world undergoing digitalisation, there is an urgent need for us to create an ecosystem in which the issue of cybersecurity is of paramount importance," he said.