The Malaysian government is reviewing and enhancing existing legislation, particularly the Penal Code, to tackle foreign interference more specifically and effectively.
Datuk Raja Nurshirwan Zainal Abidin, the National Security Chief, said the proactive move is necessary as current laws do not adequately address the involvement of external entities in national affairs.
“As a nation governed by the rule of law, the absence of specific legal provisions makes it difficult for security and enforcement agencies to fully counter subversive elements. Without proper laws, taking action is extremely challenging, if not impossible. That’s why we need a strong legal foundation,” he said during the live program Bicara Naratif: Dimensi Baharu Keselamatan Negara on RTM last night.
Raja Nurshirwan also highlighted the challenges of managing foreign influence in today’s digitally open environment. He stressed that in security and intelligence work, the impact of foreign actions is more critical than their intent.
“Any matter with suspicious elements or potential to act as a Trojan Horse for national security must be investigated thoroughly. Failing to do so means we are not fulfilling our responsibilities. Security management must be professional and proactive,” he added.
He further assured that Malaysian intelligence and security agencies remain politically neutral, consistently providing factual and accurate information to the government without influence from partisan sentiments.
This initiative signals Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening its legal framework to safeguard national sovereignty and ensure that security agencies can respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats from abroad.
