KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — Efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s national security must be balanced with the protection of human rights and the rule of law, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran said today.
He said legal reforms should ensure national security is safeguarded without compromising constitutional rights, adding that the country’s legal framework must continue evolving to address emerging challenges, including cyber threats and the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI).
Speaking at a symposium on national security-related crimes and the effectiveness of current laws at Parliament House, Kulasegaran said legal reform is an ongoing process to keep legislation relevant amid technological advances, social changes and evolving security risks.
“The issue is not whether laws should be tougher or more lenient, but how to develop a legal framework that protects national security while upholding the rule of law and human rights,” he said.
He stressed that tackling modern security threats requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving Parliament, the private sector, academia, civil society and the public.
Also present were National Security Council director-general Datuk Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin and Dewan Negara Special Select Committee on Law Review chairman Senator Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol.
Earlier, Rita Sarimah said national security threats now extend beyond conventional military concerns to include cybercrime, disinformation, extremism, espionage, foreign interference, attacks on critical infrastructure and the misuse of emerging technologies.
She said Malaysia’s legal framework must continue evolving to remain effective against hybrid threats while preserving democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
Rita Sarimah added that the Dewan Negara’s Special Select Committee on Law Review conducts independent, evidence-based assessments of existing legislation to recommend improvements for consideration by the government and Parliament.
–Bernama
