Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has revealed that Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad’s (MAHB) system was hacked with a demand for USD 10 million (RM 44.36 million), which was promptly rejected.

“Yesterday, we discussed the cyberattack that seriously impacted MAHB. The discussion focused on how to resolve the matter, including the hackers’ demand for US$10 million.

“I didn’t wait five seconds before immediately saying no,” he said.

Anwar did not elaborate on the hacking incident involving the airport operator, but he emphasised that this incident highlights the country’s need to allocate more resources to the police and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), among others, to prepare for combating hackers.

Anwar further stated that Malaysia would not be safe if its leadership and systems allowed the country to succumb to the ultimatums of criminals and traitors, both domestic and foreign.

He remarked that the decision to not capitulate to the hackers’ demands would undoubtedly pose risks to the government but it underscores the necessity to enhance the capabilities of the authorities, including the banking sector.