Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated on Tuesday that a hacker demanded USD 10 million ransom from the Malaysian government following a cyberattack on Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) digital system. Speaking at the 218th Police Day celebration, Ibrahim stated that the government immediately refused to comply with the demand and did not disclose any details about the hacker's identity or the nature of the breach. "Yesterday, we discussed the cyberattack that seriously impacted MAHB. The discussion focused on how to resolve the matter, including the hackers' demand for USD 10 million," he said. "I didn't wait five seconds before immediately saying no," Ibrahim asserted.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Ibrahim stressed that the country's security would be at risk if its leader succumbed to ultimatums from criminals, whether domestic or foreign. He further emphasized that this incident shows the urgent need to strengthen the nation's cybersecurity defenses.