Malaysia is among the countries intelligence agencies consider likely targets of cyberattacks, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, and he wants every lawmaker briefed behind closed doors within two days.
Two factors put the country in the frame, he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran). The first is Malaysia’s growing digital sector and data centre industry, which he said can now rival Europe. The second is a firm position on issues some countries treat as controversial, particularly Palestine and Gaza. “Malaysia is certainly among those considered potential targets,” Anwar said, in a report by The Sun.
Not all of the intelligence could be made public. The prime minister did not identify the suspected attackers, their targets or the nature of the threat, and he said the National Security Council had advised him to alert Parliament and the public, The Edge Malaysia noted.
The warning followed a special National Security Council meeting on Monday. Anwar said the council weighed hybrid, digital and cyber threats, developments in the Middle East including a possible nuclear dimension involving Iran, and political change in Europe that could unsettle administrative systems.
Fresh information reached him from the home minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, on Monday evening and again on Tuesday morning. “I believe this is very important,” he said. “We must not take this lightly.”
Within hours, the chief secretary to the government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, was due to chair a meeting of relevant departments, while Bank Negara Malaysia governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour convened a special session with financial institutions, NST reported.
Five measures came out of the meeting: closer coordination across ministries and agencies, better readiness against domestic and foreign threats, protection for strategic infrastructure, public and community preparedness, and stronger technical capability against intrusion. Energy, transport, finance and food supply lead the list.
Anwar said the government would draw on the European Union’s Preparedness Union Strategy, which works across government and society and brings the private sector in. He also noted that the EU, Canada and Japan have told citizens to keep between three and 10 days of food at home.
Intelligence agencies are watching foreign operations in neighbouring countries, including Israeli activity and Israeli settlements in Phuket and southern Thailand, which Malaysian agencies treat as a potential threat.
The statement drew on a run of breaches abroad. Belgium shut its national tax portal. Denmark’s central population register was compromised, exposing identity records for nearly nine million people. The United States Federal Election Commission’s electronic filing system went down for 41 hours. In Japan, a breach of government networks exposed the personal records of more than 100,000 police personnel and disrupted duties in several districts.
Anwar said the Chief of Defence Force and the Inspector-General of Police had assured the council that the security apparatus was ready. “Do not assume these threats are far removed from us. What has happened in Europe, America and Japan has shaken those countries.”
