ASEAN Must Embrace Digital Sovereignty To Safeguard Energy Security

By Fatin Umairah Abdul Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Digital sovereignty is the foundation of energy security, as ASEAN’s power systems undergo rapid digitalisation driven by the integration of smart grids, renewable energy and data-driven technologies. 

Digital experts said that as the region advances towards a more connected and intelligent energy infrastructure, protecting digital assets has become just as crucial as safeguarding physical ones.

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Gamuda DNEX Cloud chief executive officer Muhammad Ashraff Ismail said digital sovereignty has become a strategic imperative to strengthen trust, safeguard national interests, and ensure economic stability.

“Trust is everything. Trust in reliability, national security and also in economic security. By having a sovereign system that only belongs to an organisation, you can ensure peace of mind to the people and also to the businesses in Malaysia,” he said during a panel session themed “Digital Innovation for Energy Transition” at the ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2025 (AEBF-25) here today.

The session was moderated by Gamuda Bhd’s special officer to the group chief digital officer, Sachdave Singh.

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To ensure reliability, Muhammad Ashraff said it is essential to maintain stable operations and uninterrupted services, while national security requires safeguarding energy and digital infrastructure from external or internal disruptions.

“When these two pillars are strong, economic security will naturally follow. Investors will view the country as stable, supported by a solid digital and energy infrastructure,” he said.

Muhammad Ashraff emphasised that digital sovereignty is no longer an option but a necessity to ensure the nation’s resilience in the digital era.

Meanwhile, Gamuda DNeX Cloud cybersecurity and programme delivery head Ramana Ramakrishna said that the energy sector plays an integral role in achieving these goals, as it underpins all other industries, including healthcare, transportation, and public services.

“The energy sector has a cascading effect on all aspects of national life, and more importantly, on public trust. To maintain this trust, the sector must be safe, resilient, and always available,” he said.

Ramana added that maintaining the effectiveness of power plants and grids requires a strong national framework and resilient public infrastructure capable of withstanding all forms of threats.

“The energy sector has many new grids coming up, (such as) solar plants and solar stations, as well as increased virtual resource availability across the country. However, this expansion also increases the attack surface, exposing the sector to a higher risk of cyber threats,” he said.

-- BERNAMA