Fahmi also touched on the need for collaboration with other countries in the development of data-sharing protocols, which would complement both Malaysia's and the region's digital economic systems. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is developing improved policies and laws in regard to data and cybersecurity in an effort to make Malaysia the digital hub of Asia, according to Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
This will include amending the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, along with an evaluation of the Omnibus Bill, with the goal of making the country’s digital policies more comprehensive.
Fahmi added that these measures were needed due to Malaysia becoming an attractive nation among foreign investors in the digital sector, now ranked 27th in the 2023 World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR).
He said that the country had improved by five spots in the rankings since last year, and is second only to Singapore in South-East Asia.
“Many investors see Malaysia as a safe destination, and they have confidence in the country’s policies... this allows us to become a regional digital hub in the Asian region.
“Malaysia can be the digital gateway to this region... If our tourism sector has the slogan ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’, maybe we can highlight a slogan like ‘Digital Malaysia: Malaysia Through To Asia’... to promote the country as a digital gateway to Asia,” he said at the launch of the D Conference 2023, organised by the Malaysia Digital Association.
Fahmi also touched on the need for collaboration with other South-East Asian countries in the development of data-sharing protocols, which would complement both Malaysia's and the region's digital economic systems.
"With this, a golden digital decade in Malaysia is possible and will indirectly make Malaysia the Digital Asian Tiger.
"This is the ministry's hope and the government's commitment, and we believe that the digital economy will play a big role in our economic growth in the near future," he said.
