KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is set to sign the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime in October, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the country is also in the process of joining the Budapest Convention or the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime.
The Home Minister said these moves are part of the effort to fight the growing threat of cybercrimes, which are becoming more sophisticated and inventive.
"The National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) receives an average of about 500 calls a day from the rakyat to report online scams.
"There is an increasing trend of reports related to online scams, and we have to respond to the complaints," he told Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (July 23).
Chong wanted to know the number of cybercrime cases reported last year and the ministry's efforts to enhance digital security for the people.
Saifuddin said police recorded a total of 46,085 cybercrime reports last year, with 49% of cases resolved.
He said the NSRC was placed under the purview of the police force this month to bolster the fight against cybercrime.
The NSRC, comprising representatives from Bank Negara, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police, will have its own office in Cyberjaya.
"At the behest of the Prime Minister, the Public Service Department has also agreed to consider creating 139 new posts for the centre," he added.
Saifuddin said Malaysia plans to sign the UN Convention in Vietnam in October.
The Budapest Convention, drafted by the Council of Europe in 2001, was the first international treaty to address Internet and computer crime.
It went into force in July 2004 and has been ratified by close to 80 states and parties, including several outside Europe, to date.
The UN Convention was first proposed by Russia in 2017, with an ad hoc committee formed in 2019 by the UN General Assembly.
It eventually produced a draft resolution that was approved by the General Assembly in December last year, with the signing ceremony planned for October.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the Home Ministry is reviewing the country's cybercrime laws to expand enforcement authorities' investigative powers.
"Cybercrimes are getting more threatening and creative.
"Our laws cannot remain static but must be dynamic to address these crimes accordingly," he added.
Saifuddin said engagement sessions will be held with relevant stakeholders before the proposed amendments are drafted.
