Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) experienced computer outages recently due to a cyberattack, officials confirmed recently. The attack, which began on March 23, targeted Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), the company responsible for managing most of the country’s airports.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim revealed that the attackers demanded a US$10 million ransom, but he swiftly refused to comply.
“When I was informed about this … I did not wait five seconds. I said no,” Ibrahim stated. “There is no way this country will be safe if its leaders and system allow us to bow to ultimatums by criminals and traitors.”
Cyberattack Disrupts Airport Systems
Malaysia’s National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) and Malaysia Airports launched an investigation into the incident. NACSA CEO Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin said operations at KLIA were not impacted, but eyewitness reports and social media images told a different story.
Former lawmaker Wee Choo Keong criticized the government’s lack of transparency, sharing photos of airport workers manually writing departure times on whiteboards due to flight information display failures.
“Systems were down for more than 10 hours, affecting check-in counters, baggage handling, and flight information displays,” Wee posted, questioning the government’s initial claim that the incident was due to a ‘network equipment failure’.
No Group Has Claimed Responsibility
Malaysian officials have not disclosed whether the attack involved ransomware, and no cybercriminal group has claimed responsibility. However, the incident follows a growing trend of cyberattacks on major international airports, with ransomware gangs recently disrupting airport systems in Seattle, Japan, and Mexico.
Airport administrators stated they are working closely with cybersecurity teams and aviation partners to ensure flight operations continue as usual.
