KOTA KINABALU: The security of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) systems will be heightened at all government ministries, departments and agencies in Sabah.
Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin said this was in line with the State Government’s policy on ICT Security (DKICT).
“The policy is to be adhered by all ministries, departments and agencies of the Sabah State Government. The adherence is important in avoiding unwanted incidences such as virus attacks or hacking activities. I urge the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the ICT Security Officer (ICTSO) of this ministry, its relevant departments and agencies, to ensure that the directive is complied with fully because prevention is better than cure,” he said when launching his ministry’s 2013 ICT Seminar here yesterday.
Yahya also reiterated the call of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman for the establishment of cyber troopers at all ministeries to answer the allegations made by certain individuals or groups.
He said that social websites such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs had brought about various implications, including negative ones.
“Aside from wasting too much time accessing these social media, these social media are also misused by certain groups to disseminate information that vilify the government of the day,” he said.
Yahya said he was pleased with the ICT level of his ministry and said that it needed to be further improved.
He added that Wisma Pertanian, where his ministry is sited, was also equipped with wireless connectivity (wi-fi) facility and the bulk of the administrative duties conducted by his staff were done with ICT tools and on the internet.
“This is in line with the government’s move towards the creation of its e-government,” he said.
Meanwhile, director of the Sabah Computer Services Department, Dr Mingu Jumaan, said that 90 per cent of government departments, agencies and ministries in Sabah utilised ICT.
“What is unique is we developed the ICT systems ourselves. That is the speciality of our department,” he said.
He also said that most of the government websites in Sabah were updated regularly, except for one or two.
“We monitor them constantly. They are also monitored by MAMPU,” he said.
Sabah has 200 government websites running on the World Wide Web.