Earlier today, Malaysia’s Department of Information discovered that their site was hacked into after several social media sites had reported it.
The department suspects its “e-Akhbar” and “e-Press” systems were intruded to issue two statements, one of which states that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had resigned from his post (“Perdana Menteri Secara Rasminya Meletak Jawatan”) whereas the other regarding applications for Malaysian citizenship (“Memo Permohonan Rakyat Malaysia”).
The posts have since been removed and Director-general Datuk Ibrahim Abdul Rahman released a press statement following the hacking incident which said:
The Information Department Malaysia has taken immediate action by removing the false statements from both systems. This is to prevent the dissemination of these statements by the irresponsible parties and to avoid confusion to the public.
He said the department was also conducting an internal investigation on the matter and a police report would be made for further investigation to be carried out.
Under the Computer Crimes Act 1997, a person found guilty of unauthorized access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offence is liable to a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both.
A person found guilty of unauthorized modification of the contents of any computer is liable to a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or imprisonment not exceeding seven years or both. A person found guilty of “wrongful communication” is liable to a fine not exceeding RM25,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both.
Sources: ABN News, The Star, Digital News Asia, New Straits Times.
