Malaysia Armed Forces to add Cyber Force as fourth service by 2030

Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman said the Cyber Force Nucleus Team will be launched at the MAF Day Carnival 2026. — Bernama pic

First Published: Thursday, 17 Sep 2026 9:29 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is set to make history by establishing a Cyber Force as its fourth service by 2030, in a strategic move to confront evolving threats in the modern security landscape.

Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman said the move was prompted by the fact that cyberspace and the electromagnetic domain have increasingly become arenas of competition and warfare on the global stage.

To this end, he said a dedicated team known as the Cyber Force Nucleus Team has been formed to spearhead planning, coordination, organisational transformation preparations, and capability development towards the force's official establishment.

He said the launch of the nucleus team is scheduled to be officiated by the Defence Minister in conjunction with the MAF Day Carnival 2026 at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Base in Lumut, Perak on September 19.

“We looked at models from other countries that have already incorporated this domain into their services. This is a very urgent need and we cannot afford to be left behind,” he said.

“This nucleus team will plan and explore how to turn the Cyber Force into a reality and have it fully operational based on the ministry's guidelines, to be realised by 2030,” he said in an exclusive interview for the 93rd MAF Day celebration.

Elaborating further, Malek Razak said in line with this aspiration, MAF is also continuously developing expertise in the field of Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA).

He said cyber capabilities, electronic warfare and spectrum management operations have already been applied in practical terms to produce tangible operational effects through the Exercise Camar Kilat Series 2/26.

“This commitment is further strengthened through human capital, with 60 officers and 17 other ranks from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) having attended CEMA-related courses as of July,” he said.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had previously said the Defence Ministry is drawing up plans for a Cyber Force as its fourth service to tackle modern and cognitive warfare threats.

Mohamed Khaled said the move was driven by the fact that present-day threats are no longer confined to traditional physical combat, but are increasingly shifting towards the domination of cyberspace and public perception. — Bernama