Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) chairperson Daim Zainuddin has raised concerns over digital sovereignty following the rise of China's 5G technology through its state-owned smartphone company, Huawei.
"China’s technological prowess and economic dominance and their superior 5G technology have drawn US accusations of intellectual property theft and their use of Chinese commercial technology companies to serve state interests," he said.
"And there are good reasons to fear the exponential rise of China’s 5G technology," the government advisor said during a dialogue session organised by the Defence Ministry.
"Today, we face an encroachment on 'digital sovereignty'," he said.
"While the speed of transmission and storage of information have greatly improved our daily lives, we need to stop and question the price we are paying for this convenience."
"What are the security, defence, privacy, and strategic implications of China’s indisputable leadership in this field?" he asked.
China's 5G controversy hit the headlines when Huawei's CFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested by Canadian authorities at the request of US. Some quarters have linked Huawei's 5G network to Chinese espionage.
'The fear is that Huawei, which has deep roots in foreign communications networks, could be called on to gather data and spy on adversaries (using 5G tech is supplied),” said the Financial Times.
Defence forces chief Zulkifli Zainal Abidin (above), who also attended the dialogue session, however, said it was too early to decide if Huawei's 5G technology posed a threat to cyber-security measures and sovereignty.
He said this after he was asked if Malaysia would ban Huawei from developing a local 5G network.
"Anything good we will take, but anything bad that undermines our security and sovereignty, we will say 'no'," he replied.
"It is still early, so let's not jump the gun […] we've got to study," he said.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reportedly said that Malaysia would conduct its own study of Huawei's 5G tech and will not merely follow what has been done by other countries. - Mkini
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