Amanda Siddharta
Research expert covering Malaysia
Internet usage in Malaysia - statistics & facts
In the modern world, digital connectivity is no longer a luxury but rather a necessity. This also applies to Malaysia, a country with the second-highest internet penetration rate in Southeast Asia. As of 2022, around 94 percent of the population was connected to the internet. It is not a surprise since Malaysia has one of the best internet accessibility and infrastructure in the region; not only through broadband internet connection, in the same year, an estimated 89 percent of Malaysians also had access to mobile internet through their smartphones.
Toward 5G connectivity
Nearly 97 percent of the population in Malaysia was covered by a 4G LTE network in 2022. Nevertheless, the country is gearing toward a newer and faster 5G network. Despite the country’s slow start in adopting the fifth-generation technology, more than 47 percent of people already had access to the 5G network in the same year. This was a significant jump from only four percent coverage in 2021. The Malaysian government, through its Ministry of Communication and Digital, is targeting 80 percent of 5G network coverage by the end of 2023.Restricted internet freedom
The internet is known to be quite restricted in Malaysia, especially when it comes to political or religious sensitivities. The government has also blocked websites that were deemed critical of it, limiting free speech over the internet. Although internet freedom in the country is limited, Malaysia fared better compared to its neighbors in Southeast Asia. According to a survey in 2022, internet freedom in the country was ranked sixth in the Asia Pacific region and second among other ASEAN countries.Risk of cybercrimes
With increasing use of the internet in almost every aspect of daily life, Malaysian consumers are also more vulnerable to cybercrimes or cyberattacks. In 2022, there were more than 28 thousand recorded cyberattacks in Malaysia, a sizable increase in the number of attacks compared to five years ago. While cybercrimes are currently more prevalent, awareness of cyber security among internet users in the country is still low. According to a 2022 survey, around 38 percent of Malaysian respondents said they did not take any actions to protect themselves after experiencing a cybercrime.
