A special committee has been set up by the government to combat cybercrime in the country.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said the Cyber Crime Special Committee was necessary for enforcement, including investigation and prosecution, to be placed under one committee that could report directly to the Cabinet.

“Presently there is no enforcement agency that deals specifically with cybercrime,” he said in a statement issued after the first committee meeting which he chaired at the Parliament building here today.

He said the establishment of the special committee was approved in a Cabinet Meeting on Nov 3.

Salleh (photo) said it was agreed at the meeting today that the special committee would function among others as a focal point to the cabinet in cybercrime-related matters, and provide consultation service to it in regard to policy and strategy.

The committee would also facilitate sharing of information among enforcement agencies, optimise various sources particularly expertise among enforcement agencies, review existing laws to see if it is necessary for more efficient enforcement in line with information technology advancement, and prepare committee reports for presentation to the Cabinet.

“The meeting also agreed on the setting up of an Action Committee headed by National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) to discuss matters for decision at the special committee level,” he said.

He said the Special Committee to Combat Abuse of Social Media would be merged with the cybercrime special committee as both committees had almost similar functions and responsibilities.

Salleh said members comprised Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said (photo), as well as representatives from the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, Home Ministry, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Attorney-General’s Chambers, NACSA, National Security Council, PDRM and the Health Ministry.

Additional committee members consist of representatives from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, Securities Commission Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Islamic Development Department.

Meanwhile, Salleh said MCMC received 1,792 public complaints between January and September this year compared to 804 in the same period last year.

The cases included bullying, sexual harassment, threats, intimidation, abuse of information, details or personal photos to shame individuals.

MCMC also received 2,047 complaints of network threats between January and August.

- Bernama