Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stressed the urgent need to develop sovereign cloud infrastructure to safeguard national security and citizens' personal data.
Speaking at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur on July 2, Anwar said the initiative had become increasingly important as Southeast Asia grows more dependent on critical digital technologies and infrastructure.
He described sovereign cloud infrastructure as a strategic step that would enable Malaysia to preserve its digital sovereignty while remaining open to global investment.
The PM said the move was prompted by concerns over the US' Cloud Act, which allows companies established in the US to penetrate and get all the data from countries where they invest. To safeguard national interests, Malaysia must establish secure, firewall-protected storage systems for sensitive national security information and citizens' personal data, he said, describing the approach as a prudent way to protect the public in an era when digital connectivity increasingly transcends national borders.
At the same time, Anwar emphasised that Malaysia was not pursuing a closed-door approach. He reaffirmed the country's commitment to remaining an attractive destination for investment from the United States, China and Germany. While acknowledging challenges posed by the misuse of digital platforms, including political, economic, personal and sexual exploitation, he said the government will address these risks through appropriate legal safeguards rather than restricting engagement with the outside world.
The PM also said the strength of smaller nations lies not in acting alone but in the unity and centrality of ASEAN, pledging that Malaysia would continue to work closely with its regional neighbours and other friendly countries./.
