Page 34 - Focus_in_Continuity_a_Monograph

29 Focus in Continuity: A Framework for Malaysia's Foreign
Policy in a Post-Pandemic World - A Monograph
larger role in capacity building that would there is no reason not to pursue the same
amplify its technical capacity and internal course of action in matters concerning
collaboration experience. cyber. As cyber is a multi-stakeholder
domain – with geopolitical and cyber
Practical and aim for development: as stability tensions a ecting the public and
the digital economy can enrich many lives, private sectors – Malaysia should support
the growth of the economy and develop- mechanisms that would amplify its voice
ment of society can be among the anchors and participation in international fora.
of foreign policy engagements. Being a Encouraging and facilitating Malaysian
nation of limited resources, Malaysia’s private sector and civil society
agenda for cyber should aim for practicali- organisations in technical standards or
ty, innovation and serve the objective of other geopolitical spaces (such as the UN
national prosperity. Thus, international OEWG) could boost the Malaysian profile
engagements should harness the activities in these areas. Widening spaces of
of ministries, agencies and the private discourse to include the private sector in
sector tipped towards economic growth. foreign policy would be useful for
This would also be inclusive of building a innovative policymaking and leverage on
trusted digital environment, facilitating various actors for cyber diplomacy.
collaboration in cyber-crime, ensuring that
data harmonisation and protection of The national cyber security strategy
personal data would project Malaysia’s 2020-2024 highlights priorities for greater
cyber capabilities and promoting its cross-border collaboration in cybercrime,
technical and human resource capabilities. intelligence connectivity, engagement with
international platforms on international
An upholder of digital rights and its standards development and the identifica-
cultural values: the di usion of technolo- tion of confidence-building mechanisms.
gy will complicate the protection of human To achieve the goals, Malaysia would need
rights and fundamental freedoms online. to deepen understanding of national
As developing nations have di erent expe- interests in a shifting domain. Mapping the
riences with digitisation and technologies, engagements and areas of concerns from
cybersecurity concerns can impact on ministries, agencies and state government
societies di erently, such as gendered activities, inclusive of values and future
lenses to network shutdowns or cultural technological concerns, would contribute
nuances to data ownership that impact on to Malaysia’s understanding of the geopo-
privacy practices. Thus, digital rights must litical challenges from the perspective of
include access and telecommunication various stakeholders.
policies, privacy and surveillance or
content moderation and hate speech. Additionally, cyber diplomacy would
Malaysia’s identity and values should stay need to be agile, multi-disciplinary and
aligned to practices of diversity, tolerance highly collaborative. Diplomats can be
and respect in the management of data or trained on the basics and nuances
the creation of online spaces. of cyber-related matters, especially
those concerning cybersecurity, Big
A believer in multi-stakeholder process- Tech, international regulations, critical
es: Malaysia is a true believer in diplomacy technologies and future issues. They need
and multi-stakeholder engagement and to have su cient capacity to address