Gov’t may tighten cyber laws, says Nancy Shukri

(Bernama) – The government is considering tightening cyber laws following the increasing number of cyber crimes which threaten national security, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri.

She said talks were ongoing between various agencies on measures to further tighten existing cyber laws in the country.

“We are in the midst of discussing this matter (tightening existing cyber laws). There is the intention but it is not yet implemented,” she told reporters at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) today.

She was speaking to reporters after launching the “Legal Forum 4U & Me” conference organised by the Malaysian Law Reform Committee here.

Also present was UUM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak.

According to Nancy, cyber crimes were increasingly rampant and could not be ignored now without any enforcement as they could potentially jeopardise national security.

She said this included efforts to recruit Malaysians, including children, to become members of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group by certain parties.

“If what is happening today is allowed to go on, it could threaten our national security,” she said, adding that problems related to cyber crime was not only faced by Malaysia but also globally.

Nancy added that various parties in the country were constantly monitoring the efforts by some to recruit members into IS.

“We have to be more careful and create awareness among the people,” she said.

She also urged the public to be constantly careful of how they used social media and not rely too much on information that was spread, but to verify it with reliable sources first.

Also present was director-general of the Legal Affairs Division in the Prime Minister’s Department, Mohd Zuki Ali.