Malaysia Champions ASEAN Cybersecurity Strategy For 2026-2030 - DPM Ahmad Zahid

PUTRAJAYA, July 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is leading the development of the ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy 2026-2030, a forward-looking framework to boost collective cyber resilience in the region, set to be unveiled at the upcoming ASEAN Summit.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that, as chair of ASEAN this year, Malaysia has placed cybersecurity at the heart of the regional agenda. 

He said that as the nation deepens its global cybersecurity engagement, it is also reinforcing its leadership within the region.

As such, Ahmad Zahid called for the upcoming ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy to prioritise real-time collaboration among member states in areas such as incident response, digital forensics, secure data sharing, and policy harmonisation.

“These mechanisms must uphold the principles of confidentiality, sovereignty and mutual trust, which are essential in managing sensitive and transboundary cybersecurity threats,” he said in his speech at the Cyber Defence and Security Exhibition and Conference (CYDES) 2025 here today.

Themed ‘Advancing Cyber Resilience’, CYDES 2025, which runs until July 3, is organised by the National Security Council (Prime Minister’s Department) and National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), in collaboration with Alpine Integrated Solution Sdn Bhd (AIS).

CYDES 2025 gathers 70 international delegations from 20 nations alongside five global organisations, underscoring international confidence in Malaysia’s efforts to foster a more secure, cooperative, and responsive cybersecurity environment.

In his speech, Ahmad Zahid also emphasised Malaysia’s strong commitment to strengthening its cybersecurity capabilities, particularly in light of the rapidly evolving threat landscape.

Referencing the Cisco 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, he noted that 93 per cent of organisations experienced artificial intelligence (AI)-driven cyberattacks over the past year, yet only 51 per cent of employees have a clear understanding of such threats.

Building on this, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) continues to play a vital role in producing industry-ready talent and promoting social mobility within the cybersecurity sector.

“Malaysia’s TVET ecosystem must now evolve into a globally recognised, high-skilled talent pipeline that delivers real economic impact. 

“A targeted upskilling initiative, led by NACSA, should serve as a key enabler in driving this transformation,” he said.

-- BERNAMA