Kuala Lumpur:Cyber threats pose significant risks to national critical infrastructure, potentially leading to national crises.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin emphasized the dangers of new forms of cyberattacks that could disable essential systems and disrupt daily services. He highlighted that critical infrastructure, including airports, ports, banking systems, healthcare facilities, and internet networks, are vulnerable to these threats.

The Defence Minister noted that disruptions in communication could cause uncertainty and panic, while transportation interruptions could halt the movement of people and goods. Energy supply disruptions could cripple almost every sector of the economy, turning invisible attacks into national crises.

Mohamed Khaled outlined four key measures to enhance cyber resilience: maintaining human accountability, ensuring system resilience, investing in human capital, and strengthening cooperation. He stressed the importance of developing defence systems that can prevent cyberattacks, withstand disruptions, recover quickly, and maintain operations.

These remarks were made during his speech at the opening of the Siber Siaga 2026 programme, part of the Cyber Digital Services, Defence and Security Asia (CyberDSA) 2026 exhibition at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Headquarters stated that the Siber Siaga programme is MAF's primary strategic initiative to establish comprehensive national cyber resilience. The Cyber and Electromagnetic Command (PSEP) leads this initiative, positioning MAF as a pioneer in integrating multi-stakeholder strategic cooperation.

The cyber resilience ecosystem is being built through collaboration between MAF, the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), CyberSecurity Malaysia, and higher learning institutions such as the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM). With a theme of 'Hyperwar: Man, Machine, Decision', Siber Siaga focuses on the security forces' strategies for new-generation warfare involving artificial intelligence, automation, and autonomous systems.