A DAP senator today questioned the effectiveness of Malaysia’s border control systems after self-styled land activist Tamim Dahri Abd Razak entered the country.
Dr A Lingeshwaran, while debating the Cybercrime Bill 2026 in the Dewan Negara, said there was little point in strengthening cybersecurity laws if loopholes remained in the country’s entry controls.
“Is this human error or is there a critical cybersecurity issue in our border control?
“Have our databases, blacklist warnings, and biometric screenings by the Immigration Department been compromised, manipulated from the inside, or did we have a server crash?
“No point debating this great cybersecurity law if there are problems in our data security system and it fails to get audited independently.
“If someone under the authorities’ radar can enter Malaysia that easily, what about those with ill intent wanting to commit acts of terror or threaten national security?” he asked.
Tamim (above) faces a charge under Section 295 of the Penal Code for allegedly damaging a soolam, a sacred trident symbol in Hindu worship, at the former site of a temple in Langkawi.
From red notice to surrender
On March 17, the Langkawi Magistrate’s Court postponed proceedings against Tamim after being informed that he was in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
On July 15, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said police had applied for an Interpol red notice against Tamim on June 8, including a request to revoke his passport.
However, Tamim surrendered himself to Negeri Sembilan police on July 18.
Negeri Sembilan police chief Alzafny Ahmad said Tamim had spent more than four months in Thailand and was believed to have returned through an illegal route along the Kelantan border.
Tamim case exposes system gaps
Lingeshwaran asked whether the Cybercrime Bill would include measures to strengthen protection for critical government digital systems, particularly immigration systems.
He also questioned if the bill would require periodic cybersecurity audits, real-time monitoring, and data sharing among agencies to prevent similar loopholes.
“I’m not trying to find faults here, but the bill is not only about meeting international conventions but also an instrument for national security.
“We must address all loopholes through constant instructions from the relevant ministry and compel service providers to be responsible for the digital services they provide,” he said.
In a video circulated on social media, Tamim said he returned from overseas to campaign for independent candidate Islah Wahyudi Zainudin in the Negeri Sembilan election.
Tamim said he wanted to campaign for the Sri Tanjung hopeful as Islah was the only Malay-Muslim candidate among five contenders for the seat. The other candidates from Pakatan Harapan, BN, Bersatu, and another independent are Indian Malaysians. - Mkini
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