MALAYSIA POSITIONED TO LEAD ASEAN IN CYBERSECURITY, SAYS KASPERSKY

From C Vinoothene

SINGAPORE, April 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia ranks highly in cybersecurity readiness within ASEAN, according to global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.

Kaspersky’s general manager for Southeast Asia, Yeo Siang Tiong, said Malaysia has demonstrated strong capabilities in managing and addressing cyber threats, positioning the country to lead the region in this critical field.

“My observation is based on several factors. One clear indicator is the Cyber Security Act 2024, which came into effect on August 26 last year. It identifies critical industries and establishes a regulatory framework for cybersecurity.

“The second factor is the country's capabilities and resources. Malaysia has a large pool of cybersecurity professionals and threat researchers. Third, there is strong public awareness, with effective outreach programmes led by CyberSecurity Malaysia and the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), which have shown significant progress,” ,” he told BERNAMA at GITEX Asia 2025 today.

Yeo also pointed out that as the host of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, Malaysia is playing an increasingly pivotal role in uniting regional efforts to enhance cybersecurity.

“Malaysia is leading the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), where cybersecurity is a key foundational pillar. 

“As cybercriminals know no boundaries, DEFA enables Malaysia to coordinate with other ASEAN nations to prevent the escalation of cybercrime in the region,” he added.

When asked about the upcoming Malaysia Cyber Security Strategy (2025–2030), Yeo outlined four key pillars designed to strengthen national cyber defence.

“First is building resilience, not just to withstand attacks but to recover from them. The second pillar is immunity, where we advocate our concept of ‘cyber immunity.’

“Third is awareness, which remains essential, and lastly, intelligence—focusing on countering cyber threats, including those from organised crime groups targeting critical infrastructure, government, and the supply chain,” he explained.

Kaspersky made its debut as the first Cyber Immunity Partner at GITEX Asia 2025, held from April 23 to 25 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

GITEX Asia is part of the GITEX GLOBAL series, the world’s largest technology exhibition and startup showcase.

-- BERNAMA