STATEMENT BY MALAYSIA AT
THE FOURTH SUBSTANTIVE SESSION OF THE OPEN-ENDED WORKING
GROUP ON SECURITY OF AND IN THE USE OF INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES 2021-2025
ON
CAPACITY BUILDING
9 MARCH 2023
NEW YORK
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
1. Malaysia welcomes today’s discussion on capacity building.
2. Malaysia supports the principles of capacity-building as adopted in the 2021 OEWG, namely process and purpose, partnership and people. These principles could be integrated into international and regional capacitybuilding efforts by:
I. Ascertaining and assessing pre-existing capacities and initiatives needed to strengthen national capabilities in cyberspace;
II. Identifying gaps that exist across, inter alia, diplomatic, technical and legal aspects relating to cybersecurity, as well as in cyber security policies and strategy;
III. Developing and defining a confidentiality standard, with rules or regulations in place to ensure that the confidentiality of sensitive information is respected, especially taking into account the involvement of multistakeholder partners;
IV. Improving interaction and strengthening relationships with the multistakeholder community, including with academia and industry players;
V. Reviewing and assessing participants’ feedback after the conclusion of particular capacity building initiatives, in order that future activities are more effective and strategic; and
VI. Continuing to share experiences, best practices and lessons learned vis-à-vis capacity programmes and initiatives.
3. As recognised by many others, the ability of the international community to prevent and mitigate the impact of malicious use of ICT depends very much on the capacity of each State to prepare and respond effectively. Capacitybuilding can help create a culture of cybersecurity. The right culture will promote the prioritisation of security and privacy as critical pre-requisites to the adoption of technologies, and help increase investment for this purpose.
4. As mentioned in Malaysia’s intervention during our discussion on existing and potential threats, depending on its existing capabilities, a State may require assistance in areas such as cybersecurity legislation, policy and governance; technical expertise; investment in people, technologies and infrastructure; risk assessment and management; and response to cyber incidents.
5. In our region, the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (ASCCE) and the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC) have been established as training hubs in building a more secure and resilient cyberspace through capacity-building programmes for ASEAN senior policy and technical officials.
6. Further, under the ASEAN Cybersecurity Coordinating Committee (ASEAN Cyber CC), Malaysia and Singapore are currently co-leading the development of the ASEAN Regional Action Plan (RAP) Matrix on the implementation of the UNGGE Norms. The Regional Action Plan is being developed as a mechanism to assist AMS in, inter alia, identifying the capabilities required to implement each of the 11 UNGGE Norms, taking into account AMS’ national needs and priorities.
7. Malaysia looks forward to continued engagement with all Member States as we seek to enhance capacity building in the cybersecurity domain at the global level.
8. Finally, Malaysia welcomes the ‘Women in International Security and Cyberspace Fellowship’, a joint programme of the governments of Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. As a Fellow myself, I have witnessed first-hand the advantages of this capacity-building programme, which has helped increase the knowledge and expertise of women involved in cybersecurity through international professional networks.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.