KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Reuters) – Malaysia’s key institutions will hold a series of meetings on Tuesday to help prepare against cyber and geopolitical threats, the country’s premier told parliament.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the chief secretary of the government and the governor of the central bank will convene separate meetings with government departments and financial institutions to assess the risks.
• Anwar was speaking in response to directives and advice issued to citizens of the European Union, Canada and Japan to stockpile food after cyberattacks hit digital infrastructure across Europe and the Western world, including its administrative systems.
• “We are still monitoring other developments. They involve the tensions in the Middle East, developments in Yemen and the Red Sea, and security threats occurring in Europe. These show that crises abroad can also affect the safety of our people, our economic stability and our national interests,” he said in a speech to parliament.
• Anwar added that the country’s National Security Council met on Monday to discuss currently available mechanisms, coordination between ministries, agencies and security forces, and the preparedness of the country for any eventuality.
• Anwar said that the meeting also focused on increasing preparedness for various forms of threats, both domestic and foreign.
• He cited certain foreign intelligence bodies, including Israel’s, that operate in neighbouring countries, as well as Israeli enclaves in Phuket and southern Thailand.
• “Our intelligence bodies see these as a potential threat to the country,” he said.
• Anwar said Malaysia is among the countries considered a target because its digital and data centre capabilities are among the strongest and can rival Europe’s, while its stance on issues such as Palestine and Gaza is considered controversial in some countries.
• Anwar added that the National Security Council’s director general will also give a special closed briefing to all lawmakers within the next one to two days.
(Reporting by Ashley Tang; Editing by David Stanway)
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