Former defence forces chief Zulkifeli appointed CyberSecurity Malaysia chairman

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Chief of Defence Forces Gen (R) Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin has been appointed as the new chairman of CyberSecurity Malaysia with effect from July 1.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said Zulkifeli was appointed to take over the position from Gen (R) Tan Sri Mohd Azumi Mohamad, who retired on June 30.

"Zulkifeli has more than 44 years of experience in military and defence services and had held various key positions in the Malaysian Armed Forces," Annuar said in a statement Monday (Aug 1).

Annuar said he was confident that with Zulkifeli’s vast experience and expertise in several portfolios, the appointment was timely and in line with the country’s direction towards digitisation to compete in the digital economy and attain competitive advantage.

"May this appointment take CyberSecurity Malaysia to higher level of excellence," he said.

Zulkifeli who was appointed as the 23rd Chief of Army on May 21, 2010, and was subsequently appointed as the 18th Chief of Defence Forces on June 15, 2011, before his retirement on June 14, 2017.

Annuar said in recognising Zulkifeli’s significant contribution in the field of security, he was appointed National Security Council (MKN)’s first director-general from August 2016 to June 2018.

He said Zulkifeli was also the main driver in the implementation of the 2017 National Security Policy, the drafting of the National Security Council Act 2016 and was fully involved in the formation of the National Cyber ​​Security Agency (NASCA). - Bernama