Digitalisation is one of the Strategic Thrusts under Brunei Darussalam’s ASEAN Chairmanship for 2021. As a result from the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, digitalisation is driving the sectors which are now being depended upon by citizens and businesses for continuity, stability, well-being and survival, which need to be supported by cybersecurity. The Minister of Transport and Infocommunications, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Cybersecurity of Brunei Darussalam outlined the matter during the Singapore International Cyber Week, SICW and the 6th ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity, AMCC via video conferencing on the 5th to 7th of October 2021.

Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohammad Yusof shared with the challenges arising from cybersecurity threats and incidents especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, commitment to cybersecurity has now gone beyond protecting the Critical Information Infrastructures, but also to address key emerging issues such as data integrity and sovereignty as well as confidence building measures.

With the theme, “Living with COVID-19 – Reimagining digital security risks and opportunities”, SICW 2021 was officiated by His Excellency Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Republic of Singapore. The opening ceremony was then followed by the SICW Ministerial Roundtable Opening Session, whereby the Minister of Transport and Infocommunications participated as a speaker on the topic ‘A Multi-stakeholder Approach to Cybersecurity’.

Also held on 6th October 2021 was the 6th ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity, 6th AMCC. During the conference, Yang Berhormat welcomed the current progress in the preparation of the Regional Action Plan on the Implementation of the Norms of Responsible State Behaviour in the Cyberspace. Yang Berhormat also further reiterated on the need for cybernorms to be universally accepted and translated into practical actions applied across sectors, and for the initiatives to be relevant with the focus and priorities of ASEAN sectoral bodies.

AMCC is an annual Ministerial-level dialogue for ASEAN ICT and Cybersecurity Ministers to discuss key cybersecurity issues in the region. The conference started with the launch of the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence by Her Excellency Josephine Teo, Minister for Communication and Information and the Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity, Republic of Singapore, witnessed by other Ministers and Head of Delegates from ASEAN. SICW 2021 concluded with the Ministerial Roundtable Closing Session yesterday in which speakers representing the government and the industry discussed on ways to navigate the opportunities and risks presented by living in the new norm, from the perspective of cybersecurity.

Source: Radio Television Brunei