Cyber terrorism: Ministry to take proactive steps to establish digital centre

The Communications and Multimedia Ministry is ready to take proactive steps towards establishing a Regional Digital Counter-Messaging Communications Centre to prevent the spread of Islamic State (IS) ideology and activity through the internet.

Its Deputy Minister, Datuk Jailani Johari said the first step to be taken by the ministry was to hold discussions with ministries-in-charge of that matter among regional countries.

"We laud the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's desire to immediately establish the centre to prevent 'online-terrorists' who support IS from continuing to spread their propaganda on the Internet and social media.

"Efforts involving regional countries are timely as intelligence cooperation of all the countries involved will help achieve the objective of its establishment, that is to curb the internet misuse by the ruthless cyber terrorists," he told reporters here Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced that Malaysia was actively exploring the possibility of establishing a regional digital counter-messaging communications centre when speaking at the Leaders' Summit on Countering ISIL and Violent Extremism at the United Nations, in New York.

Elaborating, Jailani said at the moment, the ministry had been working with various government departments and agencies in curbing the dissemination of negative propaganda by extremist groups like IS.

"We have always discussed with the National Security Council and other authorities to resolve this matter and I dare say such issue in Malaysia is still under control," he said.