KUALA LUMPUR,  Nov 8  -- The RM27 million allocation to CyberSecurity Malaysia in Budget 2021 Budget opens up opportunities for cooperation among more security analysts and academicians in the country to provide qualitative exposure and development of cyber security software.

A senior lecturer at the Centre of  Media and Information Warfare Studies, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Dr Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said the collaboration could include organising awareness programmes and the provision of self-protection manuals to detect threats and attempts to frame digital users or related industries.

"Software development and regulation of more centralised data should also be a priority for cyber security in ensuring strategic collaboration with industries that have access to consumer digital data.

“This will indirectly protect important data and software from being hacked by irresponsible groups  to commit cybercrime," he said when contacted by Bernama.

Noor Nirwandy said the government's initiative in allocating RM500 million to the National Digital Network (JENDELA) is the best way to provide better Internet access to 430 schools to facilitate online learning.

"JENDELA is the catalyst for targeted strategies and approaches that serve as a benchmark for long-term strategies for solutions and improvements in digital and online learning in the country.

“The laptop financing scheme for university students is the awaited news for the students to improve the quality of online learning for them," he added.

Meanwhile, the CyberSecurity Malaysia chief executive officer  Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab said the agency had and would continue to cooperate with academicians  from institutions of higher learning to improve the country's cyber security.

He regarded the government's initiative as a recognition in an effort to prevent the threat of cybercrime and at the same time ensure the existence of safe and conducive cyber security infrastructure in Malaysia.

Citing statistics on cyber security incidents, he said, based on  reports lodged at the Cyber999 Aid Centre, which is operated by CyberSecurity Malaysia, a total of 9,042 reports were received until October this year,  compared to 8,770 in 2019, which is an increase of 3.1 percent, with the highest incidents on fraud, intrusion and malicious code.

"With the current level of risk, types of threats and the number of cyber attacks that occured, cyber security approaches need to be implemented holistically, involving individuals, processes and technologies that are effective at reducing the risk of cyber attacks, as well as protect the network system and technology itself," he said in a statement.

Last Friday, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, when tabling  Budget 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat  announced that the government will allocate RM27 million to CyberSecurity Malaysia to increase the country's cyber security controls.

The government is also allocating RM500 million to implement the JENDELA initiative  for 430 schools nationwide and RM7.4 billion by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)  to build and upgrade broadband services for 2021 and 2022.

-- BERNAMA