KUALA LUMPUR: The government is in the process of drafting new legislation which will include the establishment of a "kill switch" to enhance digital safety with detailed and clear provisions.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said that the new act would align with the current needs and developments in technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) as well as to combat the increasing cybercrime in the country.
She added that the act was among issues discussed in the first meeting of the Working Committee on the Drafting of New Laws related to Cybercrime chaired by her, alongside the Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo with 16 government agencies and statutory bodies on Feb 5.
"Through the meeting, we identified that the current laws (to combat cybercrime) are not in tandem with the rapid development of technology, leading to an increasing online fraud due to the loose security in online platforms.
"(With this), we also realise the need to establish a kill switch system through an act to combat fraudulent activities on any domain or online platform in Malaysia immediately," she said during minister's question time in Dewan Rakyat, today.
Azalina added that the government through related agencies was also reviewing the need to amend other laws, such as the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613), the Penal Code (Act 574) and Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593) to allow victims of scams to recover their stolen money.
She also said that such amendments to the current legislation were crucial as Malaysia had outdated laws relating to cybercrime.
"Many of our laws were enacted before 2010 and this means that our legal system is quite outdated. If I were to compare, these laws are like worn-out bicycles compared to a (new) car.
"This is why these laws need to be amended not only in terms of substance but also in procedures so that we can assist the government in addressing the issues we face today."
In December last year, Azalina announced the government's plan to combat online criminal activities by formulating a decisive policy through the collaboration of its Legal Affairs Division and the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC).
This, she said, included the plans to bring about clarity in this matter through the amendment of existing laws and the introduction of a new specific law.
She said the government, in cooperation with academicians, would undertake an extensive three-month study which would encompass comparative research and seek public input through consultations.