PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has disclosed that Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) was recently targeted by a cyberattack, during which hackers demanded a ransom of US$10 million.
However, Anwar swiftly rejected the ransom demand.
Speaking at the 218th Police Day celebrations at the Police Training Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar shared the details of the incident, explaining that upon receiving the information, he immediately responded, "When I was informed, I didn’t wait, within five seconds, I answered 'no' to the demands of the criminals."
He added, "Yesterday, we discussed the issue of cyberattacks and hacking. This attack was quite serious for MAHB in the last couple of days. We’ve been discussing how to resolve the matter, including how to handle the hackers’ demand for US$10 million or something similar."
Present at the event were key officials including Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Minister of Communications Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, and the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
Anwar firmly stated that Malaysia could not afford to compromise its security by yielding to demands from criminals, whether domestic or foreign.
"Our country would never be safe if the leadership and our systems allowed the nation to bow to the ultimatums of criminals and traitors, both within and outside the country," he said.
While acknowledging the risks involved, Anwar stressed that the government's refusal to meet the hackers’ demands was a critical decision, reinforcing the need to bolster the country's cybersecurity capabilities.
"Is there a risk? Yes, and we must make this known to the people. But this also highlights the need for us to enhance our capabilities, such as additional funding for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the banking sector, and all involved agencies for future preparedness," Anwar added. – March 25, 2025
