KUALA LUMPUR: The police force must adapt and become a digitally enabled, intelligence-led organisation that is flexible and proactive, as cybercrime losses have surpassed RM1.22bil, says Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail.
The Inspector-General of Police said that from January to October last year, Malaysia recorded losses exceeding RM1.22bil due to a surge in cybercrime.
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"The alarming figure stems from financial scams, online deception, identity theft and data breaches, underscoring the growing threat to the country’s digital ecosystem.
"According to Cyber Security Malaysia, more than 5,900 incidents were reported in 2023, including 3,705 fraud cases.
"Notably, data breach reports spiked by a staggering 1,100% compared with the previous year.
“These numbers highlight the real-world impact, economic disruption and erosion of trust in our digital environment,” said the IGP during the opening of the PDRM Special Dialogue III on Tuesday (Aug 26).
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He said that there is a need for the police to evolve into a digitally enabled, intelligence-led force that is flexible and proactive.
“We are committed to modernising our approach by enhancing digital forensic capabilities, strengthening intelligence coordination, fostering inter-agency and international cooperation, and continuously developing our personnel’s skills,” he said.
However, the IGP emphasised that fighting cybercrime is not solely the responsibility of law enforcement, but requires a whole-of-society approach involving government agencies, academia, the tech sector and civil society.
At the event, Mohd Khalid said it brought together 550 participants, featuring ministerial dialogues on digital defence, expert panels on law and technology, roundtable discussions on cross-border cyber threats, and specialised workshops on response tools and training.
"In addition, a cybersecurity knowledge competition was held to encourage academic excellence and innovation.
"The diverse agenda reflects our collective ambition to shape the future of public safety in the digital era,” he said, adding that the dialogue should ignite innovative solutions and reinforce Malaysia’s leadership in confronting cybercrime.
He called on all stakeholders to collaborate in safeguarding digital integrity.
"Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. By sharing knowledge, strengthening networks and coordinating strategies, we can better protect our communities and institutions,” he said.
