KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia can be the "Digital Tiger" of Asia once it achieves key components to boost its digital strength and economy.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government has to focus on making sure the last three per cent of urban and rural areas have connectivity accessible.
"By tackling this challenge head-on, Malaysia can establish a solid foundation for its digital transformation," he said.
More private sector participation, including public-private partnerships in cybersecurity initiatives, can help lay out plans to elevate the standards of cyber protection and personal data security.
This will create a safe space for businesses and individuals to use digital tools, Fahmi added.
He said bringing different groups and organisations together could also increase investments to develop the digital economy.
"I believe the benefits from these efforts can be enjoyed by the people, which is what we call success. Eventually, this could portray Malaysia as the Digital Tiger of Asia.
"We can see today that many companies are considering expanding their operations in Malaysia, including increasing their workforce. This is very positive for the digital economic ecosystem in Malaysia," he told reporters after the launch of #JagaDataKita campaign and MyCyberShield here today.
Fahmi said these efforts in place will indirectly position Malaysia as a hub for companies to grow in the Southeast Asian and broader Asian region.
"This is also one of our goals where we see the infrastructure we have, whether physical or through incentives like Malaysia Digital Economy Corp (MDEC), can make Malaysia a prime destination for investors to expand their operations both in Malaysia and further in the Southeast Asian region" he added.
Heeding the government's call for a more united front in battling personal data breaches in Malaysia, TNG Digital Sdn Bhd and MDEC collaborated to bring #JagaDataKita campaign to the public.
MyCyberShield powered by F-Secure, a global leader in cybersecurity, offers Malaysians 24/7 personal data monitoring for a complete peace of mind.
The first phase of MyCyberShield offers Identity Protection with cyber help feature where subscribers can protect them and their family members' multiple identifies such as email address, credit card, phone, MyKad, passport, bank account and username.
If breaches occur, subscribers will receive notifications containing information about compromised data and get basic tips and recommended actions based on severity of data breaches.
Founded in 1988, F-Secure - which is listed on Nasdaq OMX Helsinki - has led the cyber security industry for more than 30 years.