PUTRAJAYA will introduce national cyber security strategies this year to tackle cyber threats, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said.

She told the Dewan Rakyat during question time today the strategies will deal with cyber threats comprehensively.

“They will be implemented through human resource and infrastructure developments that focus on forming a national cyber security workforce,” she told Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (Pasir Mas-PAS).

The PAS lawmaker had asked about the government’s efforts to tackle cyber threats.

In his supplementary question, Fadhli said fake news also constitutes cybercrime, asking if the government is taking a step backwards by scrapping the Anti-Fake News Act.

The act was passed by the former Barisan Nasional government just before the 14th general election, which saw Pakatan Harapan come into power.

The former PH opposition was critical of the anti-fake news law, claiming that BN would use it to curtail or silence critical news reports and views against the administration.

Wan Azizah said there is no need for an anti-fake news law.

“We have the mechanism to tackle fake news. We don’t need a new legislation. We are making amendments to existing laws to deal with such issues.” 

Dr Tan Yee Kew (Wangsa Maju-PH) asked what the government was doing to boost Malaysia’s capability to deal with cyber threats.

Wan Azizah said Malaysia has such talents and the government was working to enhance this local expertise.

Among the efforts are awarding certifications to employees in both the public and private sectors to nurture the right ecosystem to groom such talents. – April 3, 2019.