KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 — The Digital Ministry will introduce Malaysia’s first intelligence system to monitor the sale of personal data on the dark web, Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced. Set to launch in the second quarter of this year, the system—named the Project on Automation Capability for Intelligence Support in Managing Personal Data Leakage Cases—aims to combat the rising global digital security crisis.
This initiative is part of the government’s strategy to enhance personal data protection, particularly in response to increasing cyber threats linked to e-commerce platforms and illicit online transactions. Gobind emphasized that the ministry, through the Personal Data Protection Commissioner (JPDP), is intensifying enforcement efforts, strengthening advocacy programs, and upgrading security systems to prevent data breaches.
The ministry has been conducting raids on companies handling personal data and is expanding its regulatory reach by opening new JPDP offices, including in Sabah and Sarawak, to streamline investigations and enforcement activities. Additionally, the ministry plans to introduce the Information Security and Privacy Management System (ISPMS) Certification Project, aligning Malaysia with global security standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701.
To further enhance cybersecurity expertise, CyberSecurity Malaysia will establish the Malaysia Cybersecurity Academy, as previously announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The academy will offer specialized training under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) framework to address the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals.
Gobind reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening digital security infrastructure, ensuring Malaysia remains resilient against emerging cyber threats.
