Treat cybersecurity as a national resilience issue – The Star

Treat cybersecurity as a national resilience issue  The Star

MALAYSIA’S rapid digital transformation is creating economic opportunities, but it is also expanding the country’s exposure to cyber threats. The growth of e-commerce, digital banking, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and government online services means that more personal, financial and institutional information is stored and transmitted digitally. The critical question is whether Malaysia’s cybersecurity capabilities are developing at the same pace as its digital economy. Data centres are an important part of this transformation. Malaysia, particularly Johor and the Klang Valley, has attracted major investments in data centre infrastructure because of its strategic location, connectivity and growing demand for cloud services. However, these facilities are not merely industrial buildings; they also house valuable data and support essential digital services.

A successful cyberattack could disrupt business operations, expose confidential information and undermine public confidence. Their concentration also creates potential risks involving service disruption, ransomware, espionage and attacks on critical infrastructure. Malaysia’s geopolitical position adds another dimension. Located along important regional trade and communication routes and situated between major economic powers, Malaysia operates within a strategically significant part of South-East Asia. Regional tensions, international competition over technology and state-linked cyber operations can increase the country’s exposure to cyber espionage and infrastructure attacks. This does not mean Malaysia will necessarily become a target in every geopolitical dispute, but its growing economic and technological importance