LUMUT, September 19 2026, Malaysia has launched the Cyber Force Nucleus Team as an initial step towards establishing the Cyber Force as the fourth branch of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), with full operations targeted by 2030.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the team would assess and coordinate key aspects of the proposed Cyber Force, including its organisational structure, operational doctrines, staffing and capabilities.
He said the initiative aims to strengthen national defence preparedness against emerging threats in the cyber and electromagnetic domains.
The Cyber Force will integrate four key pillars — Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4), intelligence and space capabilities.
Mohamed Khaled said the initiative reflects the changing nature of security threats, which are increasingly driven by technology and network-centric military operations.
The nucleus team will bring together cyber units from the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and Royal Malaysian Air Force, while creating new positions for personnel with expertise in information technology and artificial intelligence.
Brig Gen Datuk Abd Razak Sipit, who is also the Ministry of Defence Strategic Intelligence director-general, has been appointed to lead the Cyber Force Nucleus Team.
-BERNAMA
