The Ministry of Digital is the ministry that leads Malaysia's digital agenda, established on 12 December 2023 through the restructuring of digital functions from the former Ministry of Communications and Digital. Its first minister was Gobind Singh Deo. The ministry oversees two departments (JDN and JPDP) and four agencies including MDEC, CyberSecurity Malaysia and Digital Nasional Berhad.
- Established on 12 December 2023 from the restructuring of the former Ministry of Communications and Digital.
- Oversees two departments (JDN, JPDP) and four agencies (MDEC, CyberSecurity Malaysia, DNB, MYNIC).
- MCMC remains under the Ministry of Communications, not the Ministry of Digital.
- The digital economy contributes about 23.2% of GDP, targeted to reach at least 25.5% by the end of 2025.
Who this applies to: Students, researchers, technology investors and anyone seeking to understand the structure of Malaysia's digital governance.
On this page
When Malaysia decided that “digital” was too important to share with any other ministry, a new ministry was born. The Ministry of Digital is the country’s technology policy control centre — home to the digital economy, cybersecurity and personal data protection under one roof.
What is the Ministry of Digital and why does it exist?
The Ministry of Digital was established on 12 December 2023 during a Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. It was not a ministry built entirely from scratch: it was born by restructuring and separating the digital functions from the former Ministry of Communications and Digital, so that the delivery of the digital agenda would become more focused, holistic and efficient.
The first Minister of Digital was Gobind Singh Deo. He once described the establishment of the ministry as a challenge because its foundations had to be laid from the ground up, yet he confirmed that the ministry was able to carry out its duties effectively after roughly ten months of operation.
The ministry’s focus is anchored on three main agendas: the digital economy, the digital society and the digital government.
Who falls under the Ministry of Digital?
To carry out its mandate, the ministry oversees two departments and four agencies. One of the most notable moves was the restructuring of the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) into the National Digital Department (JDN), which now leads the digital government transformation.
The placement of agencies was announced in phases. In December 2023, it was reported that MAMPU (now JDN), MDEC, MYNIC and the Personal Data Protection Department were placed under the ministry. Later, on 10 January 2024, it was announced that Digital Nasional Berhad and CyberSecurity Malaysia were also placed under the Ministry of Digital.
| Entity | Type | Main role |
|---|---|---|
| National Digital Department (JDN) | Department | Digital government transformation; result of the restructuring of MAMPU |
| Personal Data Protection Department (JPDP) | Department | Enforces personal data protection |
| Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) | Agency | Drives the digital economy and digital investment |
| CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) | Agency | National technical cybersecurity body |
| Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) | Agency | The country’s single 5G wholesale network |
| MYNIC Berhad | Agency | Administrator of the .my domain name |
Are MCMC and NACSA part of this ministry?
This is a common confusion. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) — the regulator of communications infrastructure — remains under the Ministry of Communications, not the Ministry of Digital. The two ministries are separate even though their remits often border one another.
The National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), meanwhile, is the national lead agency for cybersecurity matters, formally established in February 2017. According to NACSA, its mandate includes formulating national-level cybersecurity policies and strategies as well as coordinating the Malaysia Cyber Security Strategy. Malaysia’s cybersecurity functions are therefore shared: CyberSecurity Malaysia serves as the technical body under the Ministry of Digital, while the coordination of national-level cyber policy and strategy is led by NACSA.
What is the ministry’s real impact?
For investors and the public, the ministry is the focal point for the country’s digital policy. The digital economy is reported to contribute about 23.2% of GDP, with a target of reaching at least 25.5% by the end of 2025. Foreign direct investment in the technology sector is also strong, with a figure of USD16.9 billion reported for 2024 from leading technology companies such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google and Oracle.
On the infrastructure side, DNB’s 5G network coverage was reported to have reached 82.1% of populated areas as of October 2024, up from 80.2% the previous year — an indication of how quickly the country’s digital backbone is being built.
What’s next
The Ministry of Digital is still young and its structure continues to be refined. To dive deeper into its components, see the profiles of MDEC (digital economy), CyberSecurity Malaysia (cybersecurity), Digital Nasional Berhad (5G), and Malaysia’s personal data protection framework. The most authoritative source remains the ministry’s official website at digital.gov.my once it is fully back online.
When was the Ministry of Digital established?
On 12 December 2023, when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim separated the digital functions from the former Ministry of Communications and Digital.
Is MCMC under the Ministry of Digital?
No. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) remains under the Ministry of Communications, not the Ministry of Digital.
Which agencies are placed under the Ministry of Digital?
Two departments (the National Digital Department and the Personal Data Protection Department) and four agencies: MDEC, CyberSecurity Malaysia, Digital Nasional Berhad and MYNIC Berhad.
The following are deliberately unstated or described only qualitatively until confirmed by a subject-matter expert:
- Struktur dalaman kementerian (bilangan sektor dan bahagian): laman rasmi digital.gov.my tidak boleh diakses buat masa penyusunan, jadi angka struktur telah dikeluarkan sehingga sumber rasmi disahkan.
- Rangka tiga teras (ekonomi digital, masyarakat digital, kerajaan digital) — sahkan terhadap penyata dasar rasmi kementerian.
- Penempatan MyDIGITAL Corporation di bawah Kementerian Digital — tidak disahkan oleh sumber penempatan yang dipetik; dikeluarkan sehingga sumber utama diperoleh.
- Sejarah organisasi terperinci CyberSecurity Malaysia (asal-usul MyCERT, pemindahan portfolio) — dikeluarkan sehingga sumber primer diperoleh.
- Angka liputan 5G DNB (82.1% / 80.2%) dan tarikh rujukan tepat — sahkan terhadap laporan rasmi MCMC/DNB.
Sources
- Establishment Of Digital Ministry A Challenge, But Progressing Well – Gobind — Bernama
- Mampu to come under Gobind's ministry — The Star
- DNB and CyberSecurity Malaysia to go under Digital Ministry — SoyaCincau
- Ministry Of Digital Elevates Nation's Digital Economy To New Heights — Business Today
- About Us — National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) — NACSA (Agensi Keselamatan Siber Negara)
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 1 Aug 2026 | Approved and published. | — |