Lumut: 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.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman stated that the move was prompted by the reality that cyberspace and the electromagnetic domain have increasingly become arenas of competition and warfare on the global stage. A dedicated team known as the Cyber Force Nucleus Team has been formed to lead planning, coordination, organizational transformation preparations, and capability development towards the force's official establishment.
The launch of the nucleus team is scheduled to be officiated by the Defence Minister during the MAF Day Carnival 2026 at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Base in Lumut, Perak, on September 19. General Malek Razak emphasized the importance of this initiative, noting that models from other countries that have incorporated this domain into their services were considered. He stressed the urgency of the move, stating that Malaysia cannot afford to be left behind.
The nucleus team will explore how to make the Cyber Force a reality, ensuring it becomes fully operational based on the ministry's guidelines by 2030. In line with this aspiration, the MAF is continuously developing expertise in Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA). Cyber capabilities, electronic warfare, and spectrum management operations have already been applied practically to produce tangible operational effects through the Exercise Camar Kilat Series 2/26.
This commitment is further bolstered by the development of human capital, with 60 officers and 17 other ranks from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) having attended CEMA-related courses as of July. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had previously indicated that the Defence Ministry is drawing up plans for a Cyber Force to address the threats of modern and cognitive warfare. He highlighted that present-day threats have shifted from traditional physical combat to the domination of cyberspace and public perception.