Govt mulls quantum tech policy to bolster cyber resilience

The Star

The Digital Ministry plans to formulate a policy on quantum technology (tech) to further strengthen personal data protection, said Minister Gobind Singh Deo.   He said the ministry is also looking at data holistically to improve cyberinfrastructure’s resilience, thus preparing the nation to face the new technology.   WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

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00:00Between 2021 and April this year, more than 95,800 people have been victims of online scams.

00:18The reported number of scams is 3.81 billion rupiah.

00:27This is just a report that we received.

00:30There are many people out there who are also facing the same problem,

00:33becoming victims but not reporting the incident.

00:37So here we can see how important it is,

00:40we make sure that even though we want to move to an era where Malaysia is ready

00:45as a whole, so that we can all take part in the digital economy and so on,

00:52at the same time, the platforms that we provide must be safe to use,

00:57from the perspective of cyber security.

01:00So my ministry gives pressure to this matter.

01:04We focus on how we can build platforms,

01:08including the 5G aspect and so on.

01:14At the same time, we also focus on cyber security.

01:19In March, we announced a new Cyber Security Act,

01:23a move to the Personal Data Protection Act.

01:26This shows the commitment of the Ministry of Digital

01:30to ensure our efforts to create a safe digital platform ecosystem.

01:40So today we are here to see or what is called the Fusion Center in Axiata.

01:47And I think this is quite an important effort

01:50where we can see for ourselves what actions are being taken.

01:54Although there are many discussions related to the cyber security aspect out there,

01:59many are interested in what is the difference between the cyber security aspect

02:05and the usual security aspect.

02:08There is a lot that we inform the people,

02:11but today we can see the capacity behind this wall,

02:16the rooms that are built,

02:18where there are experts who look at what is called cyber attacks

02:23or cyber threats in real life.

02:27And this is real time.

02:29This is something that we see not only in Axiata,

02:34but also in many other companies.

02:38So to me, as a minister,

02:40the important thing is that we must first accept the fact

02:43that in order to move forward, the cyber security aspect is very important.

02:47And if the cyber security aspect is very important,

02:50we need to take steps to bring together all players from the industry,

02:56those who are experts in this field,

02:59and we have to sit together to discuss how,

03:01apart from taking actions on their own,

03:06to create guidelines,

03:09to strengthen their cyber security systems,

03:13we also have to look at how the government can create policies.

03:17Apart from looking at the law enforcement,

03:20maybe there are guidelines,

03:23we look at the data protection aspect,

03:26the cyber security aspect,

03:28this is very important.

03:29And that's why I said in my speech,

03:32before this, there was a discussion,

03:34I have set up in a month,

03:36so that the industry can come together,

03:38meet me at the ministerial level,

03:40and we sit together to look at the policies that need to be implemented,

03:47so that we can jointly build a cyber security ecosystem

03:52that is strong in our country.

03:56Just now you mentioned that the cyber security act will be enforced.

03:59Yes.

04:00So the first step, what will it cost?

04:08What will happen is,

04:09the bill was passed in March,

04:13in the Dewan Negara.

04:16Subsequent to that, of course, it was gazetted,

04:18I think on the 24th of June.

04:19But it's not been enforced yet because there are four sets of regulations

04:23that need to be crafted first,

04:26and of course approved by the Attorney General's chambers

04:29before we can actually enforce the law.

04:31So I am told that out of the four, three have been approved.

04:34It's only the fourth one that is at its tail end.

04:38It will be approved at the end of this month,

04:41hopefully by the end of this month.

04:43I have told them to expedite it,

04:46and of course when it is all approved,

04:48we will actually have a press conference

04:49and we will explain exactly what needs to be done.

04:52But let all of it be approved first,

04:54and then let it come into force,

04:57and then once it is enforced,

04:59then I will be able to explain what the requirements are.

05:11That's one of the areas that we are looking at,

05:13formulating a policy.

05:15As I said to you, I am looking at data very holistically.

05:20We are looking at how at least we can ensure

05:22that there is protection for personal data.

05:24We are also looking at how at least we can improve on structures,

05:27and how at least we can also be prepared

05:29for new technology moving ahead.

05:32So this is something that my ministry is currently looking at.

05:35We will come up with something hopefully by the end of this year,

05:38but it is currently still a work in progress.

05:42Farina from TV3, on the cycle network.

05:45Zalcon Digi has submitted a proposal

05:47to deploy the cycle network last week.

05:49So can we know the update,

05:51and is there any other interested parties as well?

05:53Well, you know that there is a process.

05:56The process is currently ongoing,

05:58and I think when the process is currently ongoing,

06:00it is best for MCMC to carry on with the process

06:03and then subsequently report on who took part,

06:08what happened, and so on and so forth.

06:10I think I should be commenting on it now.

06:12So let the process take its course,

06:16and once there are decisions made,

06:18then I think the details will be made available to everyone.

06:21But since the process is going on,

06:23let it take its course first.

06:27But it is very soon.

06:29Is there any other interested parties besides Zalcon Digi?

06:32Well, I have information,

06:34but I don't think it would be proper for me to go into that now,

06:38because the process is still ongoing.

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