KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia needs anti-fraud policies to shift risks from consumers to digital transaction service providers, as cybersecurity should be considered an integral part of infrastructure rather than an added cost, a regulatory official said.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) member Derek John Fernandez said this policy change by the government is necessary to protect the public as digital services providers make significant profits.
“It is our duty to protect the public, and it is not acceptable to blame them when digitalisation has advanced rapidly.
“Not everyone understands security issues,” Fernandez, who chairs MCMC’s Online Harms and Information Security Committee, said in his speech at the 2nd Annual Anti-Fraud Leaders Summit today.
As such, digital transaction providers must allocate sufficient assets to cybersecurity.
“Not enough has been done as it’s always considered a cost item.” Fernandez said, adding that the true cost of ensuring cybersecurity needs more attention.
“Everybody talks about the great benefits and rushes to embrace digital advancements, but we have understated the cost of security.”
He also proposed specific measures to protect consumers, such as a 24-hour cooling-off period for transactions.
This period would allow individuals who believe that they have fallen victim to fraud to act within 24 to 48 hours to halt the transaction and prevent funds from being transferred.
He also emphasised the urgent need to enhance public protection against sophisticated cyber threats, including deepfakes and online scams.
“With the sophistication of technology being used today, it has become easier for criminals to commit fraud and scams against members of the public.” – July 3, 2024