CYBERJAYA, 18 December 2025 — CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) has formally announced the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer, YBhg. Dato’ Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin bin Abdul Wahab, effective 13 January 2026, marking the conclusion of a 13-year tenure that reshaped Malaysia’s national cybersecurity landscape and elevated the country’s standing in the global digital security ecosystem.
Dato’ Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin, who has led CyberSecurity Malaysia since 2013, is widely regarded as one of the architects of Malaysia’s modern cybersecurity framework, steering the organisation into a robust national technical authority at a time when cyber threats grew in scale, complexity and strategic importance.
Building Malaysia’s Cybersecurity Backbone
Under his stewardship, CyberSecurity Malaysia emerged as the cornerstone of national cyber incident management, with major enhancements to critical services such as MyCERT, Cyber999, and national cyber response capabilities. These initiatives significantly strengthened Malaysia’s readiness and resilience against cyber incidents affecting government, businesses and the public.
One of the defining pillars of his leadership was the advancement of digital forensics excellence. CyberSecurity Malaysia established internationally accredited forensic laboratories, including Malaysia’s first Vehicle Forensics Laboratory, which was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records in 2025. In 2019, INTERPOL formally recognised CSM’s digital forensic experts for their contribution to the INTERPOL Global Guidelines for Digital Forensics Laboratories, now adopted worldwide as a benchmark.
Shaping Policy, Governance and Global Standing
Beyond technical capabilities, Dato’ Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin played a pivotal role in national cybersecurity governance and policy development, contributing to the Cybersecurity Act 2024 and fostering close collaboration with NACSA, MCMC, DNB, industry players and international partners.
On the global stage, his leadership positioned Malaysia as a respected voice in international cybersecurity cooperation. CyberSecurity Malaysia served as Chair and Permanent Secretariat of OIC-CERT, Chair of APCERT (2007–2009; 2019–2023), Vice Chair of APCERT (2015–2019; 2023–2024), and has maintained membership in FIRST since 2003, underscoring Malaysia’s long-term commitment to global cyber collaboration.
Talent Development, Innovation and Public Awareness
A strong advocate of human capital development, Dato’ Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin championed extensive cybersecurity talent and capacity-building programmes, including professional training, CyberSAFE public awareness initiatives, and MTCP international capacity-building efforts. In 2020, these efforts received international recognition when CyberSecurity Malaysia won the WSIS Prizes for the Global ACE – Centre of Excellence for Capacity Building and Lifelong Learning project.
He also spearheaded strategic initiatives such as SiberKASA, designed to strengthen and sustain Malaysia’s national cybersecurity infrastructure through mission-critical services, and oversaw the establishment of the CyberSAFE® L.I.V.E. Gallery, Malaysia’s first dedicated cybersecurity gallery, recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records in 2021.
Distinguished Contributions Beyond CyberSecurity Malaysia
Beyond his executive role, Dato’ Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin has served on numerous national advisory boards and strategic committees, and is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist at domestic and international forums on cybersecurity and ICT.
He was appointed Chairman of the World Trustmark Alliance (WTA) in 2014, is a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (FASc), and serves as an Adjunct Professor at several local universities. In 2022, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM).
His contributions have been recognised through numerous prestigious awards, including the ASEAN CSO Awards 2014, Australian Malaysian Distinguished Alumni Award 2021, World Digital Economy Distinguished Leader Award 2022, Anugerah Teknologis Negara 2024, Digital Society Award 2024, ASEAN Japan Cybersecurity Community Alliance Cyber Resilience Award 2024, SME Icon Award – AIFTIS 2025, and most recently, the Path Finder Award 2025 by the Association of Anti-Virus Asia Researchers (AVAR).
A Lasting Legacy
CyberSecurity Malaysia said Dato’ Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin’s legacy extends far beyond institutional achievements, having laid the foundations for a future anchored in digital trust, cyber resilience and technological innovation.
The organisation expressed its deepest appreciation for his exemplary leadership and strategic vision, and reaffirmed its commitment to upholding and advancing the national cybersecurity agenda he helped define.
The Ledger Asia View:
Dato’ Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin’s retirement marks the end of a defining era for Malaysia’s cybersecurity ecosystem. His tenure transformed CyberSecurity Malaysia from a technical agency into a strategic national institution with global credibility. As cyber risks become increasingly intertwined with economic security and national sovereignty, his legacy will continue to shape how Malaysia protects trust in the digital age.
