Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday that hackers demanded a US$10 million ransom for a cyberattack that paralysed some operations at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) over the weekend, raising concerns about the airport’s cybersecurity and potential risks to travellers’ safety.
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Anwar confirmed that Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), which operates the country’s airports, had been a victim of a “heavy” cyberattack, with the unnamed people behind the attack demanding the substantial payment.
“When I was informed about this … I did not wait five seconds. I said no,” he said in a speech on Tuesday.
“There is no way this country will be safe if its leaders and system allow us to bow to ultimatums by criminals and traitors, be it from inside or outside the country.”
This announcement marked the first official confirmation by the government that Malaysia’s main airport had suffered a cyberattack.
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It was not immediately clear if the cyberattack had ended, and the attackers’ identities have yet to be revealed.