Security crucial in move towards digital economy, says Cybersecurity Malaysia

Cybersecurity Malaysia’s Amirudin Abd Wahab says trust and confidence are key to accepting a technology like digital economy. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Digital security is crucial in efforts to steer the country towards a digital economy as stated in Budget 2020, Cybersecurity Malaysia said.

Its executive director-general, Amirudin Abd Wahab, said trust and confidence were two key elements which would guarantee consumers’ acceptance of a technology.

“When all are interconnected, individuals, governments and companies will be exposed to the threat of cyber attacks,” he said, adding that cyber security was something that both the industry as well as individual users needed.

“We at Cybersecurity are developing the National Cyber Ethics Initiative together with the communications and multimedia ministry to instill noble values, good conduct, self-discipline and a sense of responsibility among digital technology users,” he said.

Amirudin said cyber security must be taken into account when drawing up the framework for the licensing of digital banks which Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is due to publish by the end of this year.

The concept of digital social responsibility (DSR), he said, was in line with efforts to boost collaboration between the government and private sectors.

Tabling the budget proposals on Friday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng announced various initiatives and incentives for the development of “digital applications, digital companies, and digital Malaysians”. - FMT