COMMENT | Allegations that Malaysian military officers and journalists may have sold classified information to a smuggling syndicate have shaken public confidence and raised the spectre of internal espionage.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has responded swiftly, affirming a zero-tolerance approach and granting full authority to the MACC to investigate. But as alarming as this domestic breach is, Malaysia is not alone.

Across the globe, insider espionage has repeatedly proven to be one of the most damaging threats a country can face. Learning from these international cases is crucial if Malaysia is to protect its sovereignty and reinforce its national security framework.

One striking example is the case of Dickson Yeo Jun Wei, a Singaporean who was convicted in the United States in 2020 for acting as an undeclared agent for Chinese intelligence. Yeo targeted American military and government personnel through...