PUTRAJAYA: Asean countries should look at forming an Interpol-style regional cybercrime task force to facilitate real-time intelligence exchange and regional cooperation in combating digital threats effectively, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) could be used by the Asean Chiefs of National Police (Aseanapol) as a template to form such a task force to fight cybercrime in the region.
“Balancing robust security measures with respect for civil liberties is essential to maintaining a just and equitable global security framework.
“I believe the same template is being used by Aseanapol, not only within Asean but also beyond.
“Information-sharing is borderless and with our latest equipment and tools, I believe it is in the works.
“We should be more focused on the tools to combat crime – we should not be too concerned over uniforms.
“For example, there are developed countries with high definition CCTVs every 50m in sensitive areas.
“Cybercriminals have upped their ante and the authorities should now get the upper hand on these criminals, be it organised or individual crime,” Ahmad Zahid said after the launch of the Asia International Security Summit and Expo 2025 (AISSE25) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday.
Over the past year, Malaysia detected millions of cyber threats and recorded RM1.22bil in financial losses due to cybercrime.
Earlier, in his opening speech, Ahmad Zahid said policing in the region must not only be modernised with the latest technology, but also be much more proactive and evolve with security threat advancements.
“Today, we are confronting an era where security threats like cybercrime, terrorism and transnational crimes are increasingly sophisticated and interconnected.
“Discussions are valuable, execution is imperative.
“We must implement artificial intelligence-driven predictive policing and real-time urban surveillance to proactively detect and prevent security threats.
“Establishing a national blockchain-based identity verification system is crucial to safeguarding online transactions and mitigating identity fraud,” he said.
Close to the real thing: Ahmad Zahid (right) and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (left) looking at a model plane at AISSE25 in Putrajaya. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Ahmad Zahid said public-private 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.
“Cybercriminals are leveraging AI, 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.
“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, our response must be global and coordinated,” said Ahmad Zahid, recalling the landmark agreement between Malaysia and China to strengthen intelligence sharing, border control measures, and tackling cybercrime, financial fraud and human trafficking.
“At the Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime, Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to implement the SOMTC+China Work Plan.
“Implementing a global mechanism with high-definition facial recognition and advanced CCTV technology could drastically improve crime prevention efforts by reducing response time and increasing accuracy,” he said, adding that tools such as AI, blockchain, big data and analytics must be utilised ethically.
“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.
“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,” he said.
