Law & Paneir: Realisation of Our Rights

  Malaysia's rapid digitalisation is often celebrated as evidence of technological progress, administrative efficiency and economic modernisation. Government services are moving online, businesses are embracing cloud computing, financial transactions are increasingly cashless, and public infrastructure is becoming interconnected. Yet an uncomfortable question remains: are the systems supporting this transformation sufficiently secure, or are we expanding our digital dependence faster than our capacity to protect it? Recent incidents in Europe demonstrate how ordinary digital systems can become unexpected points of vulnerability. Euronews reported on November 3 that supermarket refrigeration systems had been hacked, raising concerns about the security of internet-connected equipment. The Guardian subsequently reported that France's national blood service experienced cyber interference involving temperature and defrosting controls at three storage facilities. Although ala...

  Riots are no longer merely domestic security incidents. In an interconnected world, local grievances can rapidly become international movements, amplified by digital networks, ideological organisations and opportunistic political actors.  The recent unrest in France and other European countries, alongside Indonesia’s deadly demonstrations, offers Malaysia an important warning: instability can spread through imitation and online mobilisation, even when the underlying causes differ. However, understanding who drives such unrest requires distinguishing genuine public discontent from organised political mobilisation, opportunistic violence and foreign interference. The roots of the unrest Economic insecurity is a fundamental driver. Across Europe, rising living costs, expensive housing, deteriorating public services and concerns over education have intensified frustration, particularly among younger generations. Demonstrations in France escalated from student grievances into bro...

  Malaysia’s decision to prohibit civil servants from using Waze raises a larger question: should Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles face similar restrictions because of their potential to collect sensitive information? The answer requires more than geopolitical suspicion. It demands a consistent national-security framework that evaluates technology, foreign legal obligations, access to data and the consequences of possible exploitation. The government’s Waze directive, issued on 20 October 2026 following a National Cyber Security Committee meeting, prohibits civil servants from using the navigation application while performing official duties. Authorities cited concerns about location data and the potential exposure of sensitive government information to foreign jurisdictions. The principle is understandable: information about where officials travel, which facilities they visit and how frequently they move can have intelligence value. However, applying that principle t...

  The warning by Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay that terrorist recruiters are targeting Malaysian children through online gaming platforms should serve as a wake-up call.  His allegation that children aged 12, 14 and 15 had been recruited through Roblox, indoctrinated and taught to carry out attacks highlights a disturbing evolution in extremist recruitment.  The danger is not that gaming itself produces terrorists, but that familiar digital environments can become gateways to manipulation, radicalisation and violence. The changing face of terrorist recruitment Traditional terrorist recruitment often depended on personal connections, physical gatherings and direct ideological instruction. Digital platforms have transformed these opportunities, allowing recruiters to approach young people within environments where they feel comfortable, socially connected and relatively independent of adult supervision. The alleged movement from gaming interactions into private chat...

Malaysia does not need to replicate India’s counter-terrorism institutions to learn from its experience. The introduction of PRAHAAR, India’s National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy, instead raises a more practical question: how can Malaysia strengthen the implementation of its own security framework? The Malaysia Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (MyPCVE) 2024–2028 already provides a national framework built around four pillars: prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation and reinforcement.  It recognises that violent extremism requires coordinated action by government agencies, civil society and other stakeholders. The priority now should be to ensure these pillars produce measurable results. Five policy measures could strengthen implementation. First, Malaysia should conduct a whole-of-government coordination audit. The Royal Malaysia Police, intelligence authorities, Bank Negara Malaysia, the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre, immigration au...

  Counter-terrorism requires more than strong legislation and arrests. It demands intelligence coordination, effective institutions, public cooperation and safeguards against the misuse of state power.  India’s evolving approach offers Malaysia an opportunity to examine these priorities, particularly following the introduction of PRAHAAR, India’s National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy, in February 2026. PRAHAAR establishes a framework built around seven pillars: preventing attacks, responding proportionately, coordinating government capabilities, upholding human rights and the rule of law, addressing conditions conducive to terrorism, strengthening international cooperation, and building societal resilience.  Its relevance to Malaysia lies not in copying Indian institutions, but in assessing whether existing Malaysian arrangements translate national policy into effective outcomes. Malaysia already has its own framework. The Malaysia Action Plan on Preventing a...