Government can learn from private sector's experience in data sharing - Saifuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: The government can learn from private telecommunication companies on how to better implement data sharing and data democratisation for the benefit of the people, said Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

He said Malaysia needs to look forward in the area of cybersecurity, especially data sharing.

"Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) and other parties can help the government. Surely, certain parties will be relieved if they know that national cybersecurity is secured," the minister said at a virtual ceremony today to mark the cooperation between CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) and TM.

The country's private sector has the capability in producing and sharing data that benefit itself and the people, he said.

On the signing of the memorandum of collaboration (MoC) in today's event, he said it was in line with the government's Cybersecurity Empowerment Programme (SiberKASA), which aims to develop, strengthen and protect cybersecurity infrastructure in Malaysia.

The MoC was signed virtually by CSM chief executive officer Datuk Amirudin Abdul Wahab and the group CEO of TM Imri Mokhtar, and witnessed by Saifuddin, CSM chairman Jen (B) Tan Sri Mohd Azumi Mohamed as well as TM chairman Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh.

"This programme aims to ensure the safety of the network system and the preparedness of the workforce in handling threats from cyber attacks which are becoming more complex, dynamic and sophisticated in Malaysia and throughout the world," Saifuddin said.

Statics from the Cyber 999 Help Centre under CSM showed that cybersecurity cases have increased, with the three highest incidents up to May 2021 being cheating (70 per cent), intrusion (17 per cent) and dangerous codes (six per cent).

"Next week, the Defence Minister will present a Cabinet paper on a new national security policy, and in this new policy, cybersecurity is stated specifically as one of the thrusts," the minister said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Bakke said the MoC will help raise the capability of both the public and business sectors in handling cyber attacks from around the world and make cybersecurity one of the pillars of a digital government, economy and society.

Mohd Azumi said the principle and mechanism of the collaboration will enable both parties to benefit from the expertise of each other and to be strategic partners both locally and overseas.

This strategic collaboration is also to explore the development of enhanced security monitoring capabilities by leveraging on TM ONE's complete cloud infrastructure.

-- BERNAMA