‘Supplies stable despite security concerns’
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians should stay alert but not panic in the face of growing global security threats, as panic would only weaken the country, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said all government departments and agencies are working together to ensure adequate supplies of food, medicine and other essentials.
“Some countries have chosen to remain silent to avoid causing panic, while residents in several countries, including those in Asean, have become anxious and have started stockpiling food.
“The government, therefore, feels it is better to make the information known and disclose it in the Dewan Rakyat so that the people are aware of the situation.
“There is no need to panic. All departments and agencies have been working daily and are continuing today to ensure that supplies of medicine, food and other essentials are sufficient.
“Panic would weaken our strength. Some countries are holding emergency meetings now, but our discussions have not reached that stage,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Anwar said the country’s cybersecurity and digital and technological systems are also being monitored, with the National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) involved in discussions coordinated by the National Security Council (NSC).
He also urged the public to report any information about digital or technological intrusions or disruptions.
“Should the situation become urgent, I will convene a Cabinet meeting immediately rather than wait until Friday,” he said, adding that the situation is being monitored daily.
Anwar also said he will instruct the NSC director-general to conduct a special closed-door briefing for all MPs on the latest security threats facing Malaysia.
He said the briefing could be held within the next one or two days, subject to agreement from both government and opposition MPs.
“I can ask the DG to provide a special closed-door briefing to all MPs within the next day or two, if both sides agree,” added Anwar.
Last Friday, Kluang police chief Asst Comm Bahrin Mohd Noh said police were investigating an incident in which eight LED screens belonging to the Kluang Municipal Council were allegedly hacked to display obscene content.
The incident is still under police investigation, he said.
The council confirmed that its LED display system had been hacked, resulting in an obscene video being broadcast on the screen.
Meanwhile, there were also news reports of supermarket chains in Europe dealing with another wave of cyber attacks on their refrigeration systems after hackers managed to get into the temperature controls, turning the dial past 50°C, spoiling huge quantities of frozen and fresh produce.
The temperature tampering was reported by several major grocery stores in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Ireland and Estonia.
This is the second wave of attacks on such a scale targeting fridge and freezer controls following a cyber hack of more than 700 supermarkets in France last month. Dutch supermarkets were also affected then.
