CYBERJAYA – The Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (CCoE) will help address the shortage of at least 12,000 cybersecurity professionals needed by 2025.
While launching CCoE today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the centre is a milestone towards implementing a “robust cybersecurity ecosystem”, while envisioning it as a hub for the Asean region.
“We commend Blackberry for helping us upskill our next generation of cyber-defenders, accelerating our goal to bolster national and regional security and innovation,” he said at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Auditorium, here, today.
“Malaysia has a shortfall of 12,000 cybersecurity professionals; we need 25,000 workers in cybersecurity by 2025.
“We envision this centre as the capacity-building hub for the Southeast Asian region, with a specific focus on enhancing threat intelligence sharing and fostering regional cooperation in mitigating cybersecurity threats and combating cybercrime.”
In November last year, the government signed an agreement with Canadian software firm BlackBerry Ltd for the latter to provide cybersecurity software and set up a centre here, the firm’s first-ever engagement in the Asia-Pacific region.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who was also at the launch, said BlackBerry will equip the centre with several entry-level courses, though the commencement period is undetermined.
“By the beginning of next year, (BlackBerry) will prepare a course for cybersecurity experts.
“Implementing the CCoE allows us to close the talent gap (shortage). Today, we are seeing numerous cyberattacks happening every second.
“Moving forward, there are several things we could do to tighten our relationship with BlackBerry through collaborations with them.”
Meanwhile, Anwar said partnership efforts between Malaysia and Canada were “concrete evidence of a strong collaboration” between the two countries.
Earlier, Canada’s Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development Minister Mary Ng, said 138 Canadian firms were meeting with their respective partners here to deepen the two nations’ relationship.
Yesterday, Ng said the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership led to bilateral trade rising by 25%.
At the same time, Malaysia is appointed as Canada’s country coordinator for Asean this year and will be the Asean chair for 2025. – March 26, 2024