DON'T TREAT CYBER CRIME LIGHTLY - MINISTER

From Leslean Arshad

SEOUL, May 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will not treat cyber crime lightly
because obtaining information communication technology (ICT) through the
Internet and broadband is fraught with dangers which need to be addressed, said
Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim.

He said that although the international Internet protocol advocated by some
parties was that there should be no restraint, guidance or screening on the
Internet, Malaysia held on to its stand that cyber crime was not a matter that
could be viewed lightly.

"Don't treat lightly the security challenges on the Internet and broadband
although at the same time we are drawn to the aspects of development,
entertainment and data that can be presented by this regime," he told Malaysian
journalists on the sidelines of the World Information and Communications Summit:
WICS 2010 in this Sourth Korean capital.

"We have to be mindful that ICT through the Internet, broadband has several
dangerous elements. At the very least, we have to confront with and eradicate
betting, child pornography and matters that breach the sedition laws and
national security," he said.

He said Malaysia's view that cyber crime should be fought and overcome
jointly had received good response from several leaders and representatives of
countries taking part in the summit.


"We will try to learn from them on what we should implement in the (Internet
and broadband) regime of our respective countries," he said.

He said the cyber crime issue might not be important as yet to some
countries which were coordinating their Internet and broadband services but for
Malaysia, issues like cheating, sedition and security must be handled as a
national challenge.

He said legal provisions like the Personal Data Protection Act were among
the schemes to provide security for Malaysia.

Rais said he also shared experiences and views with the participants on the
need for ICT and the broadband industry to be made applicable to daily life so
that society could benefit from them.

The two-day conference organised by the Korean Communication Commission
which ended Wednesday was attended by ministers, deputy ministers and leaders of
nine countries.

It is aimed at strengthening cooperation and building a sustainable future
by sharing experience and visions in the ICT field.

-- BERNAMA