Why the silence on cyber security after PM's Telegram account hacked, PKR asks

SHAH ALAM - PKR has asked Putrajaya to beef up country's cyber security following reports of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah’s Telegram account were hacked.

PKR's central leadership council member Lee Chean Chung said it is not only an insult to the country’s cyber security but also said victims of online financial fraud in Malaysia are on the rise.

“It's an insult to the country's cyber security.

“Is that why Malaysian's are often victims to online financial fraud as even the government's cyber security cannot be secured,” he said in a statement, today.

He questioned why no action have been taken to curb this.

“The Barisan Nasional and Perikatan National government did not immediately direct the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Cyber ​​Crime Special Committee (NACSA) to take appropriate action by reviewing security e-mails and social media accounts of Cabinet members, instead they ask people to report any hacking to the authorities.

“This shows there is lack of awareness and attention to cyber security,” he said.

Police has previously said 5,940 online fraud and phishing cases were reported in the past seven months with a loss of RM112.1 million.

“Fraud syndicates have repeatedly used the name of the National Bank, the police or the Inland Revenue Board, and even openly misused the institution's badge to carry out fraud activities but the authorities' previous actions were like "pouring salt into the sea."

“There may finally be some light and hope after even the prime minister became a victim,” he added.

In a statement released today, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the accounts were used for fraudulent criminal operations and urged anyone to disregard messages from the prime minister's accounts and report them to authorities.