KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — Budget 2024 must reflect Malaysia’s priorities in driving 5G network technology, said Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association president Siraj Jalil.
He said the plan needs to detail the country’s priorities in driving the digital sector via accurate investments and smart strategies to overcome issues related to poor 5G coverage, network problems and service charges.
Siraj said this is because the digital world is filled with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality and Internet of Things, thus enhancing the country’s cyber world.
“However, infrastructure alone is not enough. We need to ensure Malaysians are equipped with the necessary skills to utilise the full potential of these new technologies. This means investing in digital training and education programmes, especially those related to 5G.
“The involvement of the private sector is the key to accelerating the development of 5G technology. Through government-private partnership, we can combine resources and expertise to ensure Malaysia is at the forefront of the 5G revolution,” he told Bernama.
Siraj said focus should also be given to cybersecurity as the rise in connectivity gives rise to security threats.
“The government needs to invest in cybersecurity initiatives, accelerate the establishment of the Cyber Security Act, the Cyber Security Commission and upgrade the PDRM Multimedia Cyber Crime Unit to the Cyber Crime Department to protect people’s data and privacy from cyber criminals,” he said.
Yayasan Digital Malaysia chief executive officer Nasru Syazwan Nawai said with the rapid development towards digitisation, which has seen many sectors and industries moving towards digitalisation, cybersecurity issues need to be given attention especially from the legal aspect.
This is to ensure security in the digital world and users are protected from issues such as data leaks, ransomware attacks, cyber espionage attempts and cyber fraud, he said.
“Not only in terms of the application but also the policy, legal acts, enforcement up to the system to be monitored or controlled if it happens, for example if there is an issue related to this scammer, we need to have a clear act if the perpetrator is arrested,” he said.
The unity government in Budget 2023 allocated RM10 million to the National Scam Response Centre to upgrade equipment and launch an awareness campaign as well as promote the 997 hotline.
Prof Datuk Ismail Sualman of the Centre for Communication and Media Studies, College of Computing, Informatics and Media, Universiti Teknologi Mara, said it is important to focus on expediting the 5G network because it could spur the development of the digital economy.
He said this is important to drive the growth of various sectors including education, entertainment, health and e-commerce.
Though the implementation of 5G presents major challenges including infrastructure investment and concerns about security and privacy, he said they need to be overcome with a regulatory framework to ensure the use of 5G successfully drives productivity.
Budget 2024 is set to be tabled in Parliament on October 13.
— Bernama
