PUTRAJAYA: An Interpol-style Asean Cybercrime Task Force should be considered to ease real-time intelligence exchange and regional cooperation in combating digital threats, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He suggested that the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) template could be used by the Asean Chiefs of National Police (Aseanapol) to form such a task force.
Dr Ahmad Zahid added that balancing robust security measures with respect for civil liberties is essential for a just global security framework.
He said this when speaking to the media after launching the Asia International Security Summit and Expo 2025 (AiSSE25) on Monday (Jan 20) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
"I believe the same Interpol template is being used by Aseanapol, not only within Asean but also beyond. The information-sharing is borderless and with our latest equipment and tools, I believe it is in the works."
"We should focus more on tools to combat crimes rather than uniforms. For example, developed countries have high-definition CCTV every 50m in sensitive areas."
"Cybercriminals have upped their levels, and authorities should now get the upper hand on these criminals, whether organised or individual crimes," said Dr Ahmad Zahid.
Earlier, in his opening speech, he said it is high time policing in the region be modernised with the latest technology and become more proactive.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said intelligence networks in Asean cooperative security frameworks such as Aseanapol should evolve with security threats, especially cybercriminals, who always seem to be ahead.
"Today, we are confronting an era where security threats like cybercrime, terrorism, and transnational crimes are increasingly sophisticated and interconnected."
"These issues extend beyond borders, requiring multilateral collaboration and forward-thinking policies to counteract."
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"Discussions are valuable, execution is imperative." We must implement AI-driven predictive policing and real-time urban surveillance to detect and prevent security threats proactively."
"Establishing a national blockchain-based identity verification system is crucial to safeguarding online transactions and mitigating identity fraud," said Ahmad Zahid, who also called for strengthening public-private partnerships.
He said such partnerships could enhance cybersecurity, improve intelligence sharing, and accelerate threat response through collaboration between governments, corporations, and tech firms.
"As the digital economy expands, so do cyber threats that target businesses, governments, and individuals alike. The rapid pace of technological advancements requires our security frameworks to be agile and adaptive."
"Cybercriminals are leveraging artificial intelligence, automation, and the dark web to execute attacks, creating a demand for a new level of preparedness.
We must shift from reactive responses to proactive, intelligence-driven security mechanisms that anticipate risks before they materialise."
"Recently, during the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum in China, I emphasised the critical need for international cooperation in tackling transnational crime."
"As criminals operate across borders, the response must be equally global and coordinated."
"In a landmark agreement, Malaysia and China have committed to strengthening intelligence sharing, border control measures, and tackling cybercrime, financial fraud, and human trafficking."
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"At the Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the SOMTC + China Work Plan, ensuring stronger intelligence-sharing networks and coordinated regional responses to cyber threats and illegal activities."
"Implementing a global mechanism with high-definition facial recognition and advanced CCTV technology could drastically improve crime prevention efforts by reducing response times and increasing accuracy," said Ahmad Zahid.
He further called for enhancing coordination between government agencies, law enforcement, communities, and the private sector to tackle security threats with greater speed and precision.
He said there is a need to ethically apply tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, big data, and analytics.
"Malaysia is actively investing in AI-driven predictive security to enable real-time threat detection and rapid response capabilities."
"Our National AI Office under the Digital Ministry is driving efforts to position Malaysia as a regional leader in security technology.
However, as we adopt new tools, we must ensure their ethical application, striking a balance between security enforcement and individual privacy rights."
"Cybercrime remains one of the most significant security threats. Over the past year, Malaysia reported over RM1.22bil in financial losses due to cybercrime and detected millions of cyber threats."
"Malaysia’s Next Generation Emergency Services (NG999) leverages AI-driven geolocation, digital mapping, and real-time communication, enabling faster, more efficient responses. Such innovations must become the standard across all security sectors," said Ahmad Zahid.
The three-day event was attended by ministers and top police officers from neighbouring countries.