On Wednesday (April 3), the Cyber Security Bill 2024 was approved by the Dewan Negara in Kuala Lumpur. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo successfully moved the bill to its third reading stage where it was passed unanimously by the members.
The main objective of this bill is to strengthen the country’s cyber security framework by implementing specific measures, standards, and processes to manage cyber security threats effectively.
During his closing speech, Gobind highlighted that the implementation of this bill would play a crucial role in ensuring the resilience and effectiveness of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) in responding to cyber security incidents.
Gobind emphasized the significance of the bill, stating that CNII sectors such as government, banking, transportation, defense, information, communication, and digital sectors are often targeted by cyber attacks intending to disrupt the functions of the government.
Additionally, sectors like healthcare, water supply, energy, agriculture, trade, science, and technology are also vulnerable to cyber threats that could have severe consequences for the country if successful.
He stressed the importance of establishing a law that would enable CNII entities to be proactive in assessing risks, understanding vulnerabilities, and implementing necessary preventive measures.
Furthermore, Gobind mentioned that the bill would adopt a risk-based approach to identify and enforce protective controls against emerging technologies, including blockchain, which though capable of authenticating records and transactions, also pose cyber security risks.
The bill had previously been passed by the Dewan Rakyat on March 27 and is now awaiting further discussions in the Senate scheduled for the following day (April 4). – Bernama
