KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia is preparing to join two major international frameworks to tackle cybercrime, as part of wider efforts to enhance cross-border cooperation and digital law enforcement.
The Home Ministry is in the final stages of acceding to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, and aims to sign the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime in October during a meeting in Vietnam – subject to final clearance.
The Budapest Convention, established by the Council of Europe, is the first international treaty dedicated to fighting cybercrime. It sets a common legal standard for offences such as hacking, fraud, and online child exploitation, while enabling countries to work together on investigations, digital evidence exchange, and extradition.
The newer UN Convention on Cybercrime, developed under the United Nations, seeks to establish a global legal framework for combating cyber threats. Though still under negotiation, it is designed to promote international cooperation and close legal loopholes exploited by cybercriminals operating across borders.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Malaysia’s participation in both would allow greater collaboration with agencies like Interpol and the FBI in sharing intelligence and evidence.
“If all goes smoothly, we will sign the UN convention this October in Vietnam,” he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.
He was responding to Chong Zhemin (Kampar-PH), who asked about the number of cybercrime cases reported in 2024 and the ministry’s plans to strengthen public digital security.
Saifuddin said police opened 46,086 investigation papers last year involving offences under the Penal Code, Computer Crimes Act 1997, Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, and the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
In reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Awang Hashim (Pendang-PN) on how the government is addressing the misuse of online platforms, including the sale of prohibited goods, Saifuddin said the ministry is currently studying the drafting of a new cybercrime bill.
The proposed law would expand enforcement powers, including provisions for data retention, preservation, disclosure, and real-time traffic data collection. It would also criminalise offences such as system intrusions, data breaches, and unauthorised interception.
“We will hold stakeholder engagement sessions once the draft is ready,” he said. – July 23, 2025