High Time For Academicians To Research Cyber Security
10 November 2009 (Bernama)

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama)-It is high time for academicians in the country, especially those in the institutions of higher learning, to explore, study and conduct research on cyber security, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said Tuesday.

He said that although cyber security was new in Malaysia, the need to have good control and expertise in cyber security was critical in countries like South Korea and the United States, which were regular targets for hackers.

"The threats and future trend of cyber security must be given priority in the proposed research or study," he said when opening the international security conference, Hacker Halted Asia Pacific 2009, here.

Saifuddin said the findings from the research would provide invaluable intellectual material in preparing the country to tackle such critical issues.

The deputy minister said interested academicians could apply for a special fund or grant for the research under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme, Inno Fund or Science Fund from the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry or from the Malaysian Common Criteria Evaluation and Certification Scheme under Cyber Securities of Malaysia.

He said the government had allocated over RM510 million for research on cyber security under the 9th Malaysia Plan.