Melaka: The federal government’s initiative to strengthen national cybersecurity through Budget 2026 is a timely move that will enhance public awareness of this issue. Melaka Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communication Committee chairman Datuk Fairul Nizam Roslan said Melaka, which is the first state to establish a special committee in 2024 to address cybercrime, welcomes the government’s focus on this critical issue.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fairul Nizam emphasized that this effort should not rely solely on financial allocations. He expressed concern that even with a large budget, if public awareness remains low, cybercrime cases will continue to rise. He made these remarks to reporters after the opening of the Karnival Kita MADANI x Program MADANI Rakyat Programme Melaka Edition at Dataran Klebang.

Fairul Nizam highlighted that the losses from cybercrime cases in Melaka so far are estimated at RM70 million. Therefore, the state government remains committed to implementing awareness campaigns to enhance public vigilance against cyber threats.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in tabling Budget 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat, announced that a Cybercrime Bill will be introduced to more comprehensively address cyber offences. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, mentioned that the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) will establish a Cybersecurity and Cryptology Development Centre to strengthen the nation’s digital sovereignty and security.

The Prime Minister also stated that the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), led by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), will receive a RM12 million allocation to enable faster and more efficient handling of financial scam cases. Anwar added that the role of PDRM’s D11 Division will be used to tackle cyber-based sexual crimes exploiting children, with RM20 million allocated to modernise digital forensic systems and expertise, and to establish a Behavioural Science Unit to analyse behavioural patterns and criminal profiles.