- Dewan Negara has passed the carbon capture bill
- 50% discount for tolls
- 5GB free data on the first day of Raya
IN Malaysia
KLIA was under attack
PM Anwar Ibrahim told the media that a group of hackers was responsible for a cyberattack that paralysed some operations at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) over the weekend. Abiding by the policy that ‘we do not negotiate with terrorists’, PM Anwar balls up and told the authorities not to succumb to the USD10 mil ransom payment requested by the hackers. PM Anwar said – ‘There is no way this country will be safe if its leaders and system allow us to bow to ultimatums by criminals and traitors, be it from inside or outside the country.’
Several internal sources stated that Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) and the National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) were underplaying the severity of the cyberattack. It was revealed that the attack compromised KLIA’s critical systems, up to the point that the attackers had disabled the airport’s flight information display system, check-in counters, and baggage handling services, forcing airlines and airport staff to rely on manual operations. Even the flight information boards were down intermittently for two days following the attack. Despite the best efforts of our authorities, they have yet to confirm the nature of the attack or identify the parties responsible.
In responding to the attack, Armed Forces Chief General Mohd Nizam Jaffar said that its Cyber Defence Operation Centre (CDOC) and Cyber Defence Information Centre (CDIC) are on high alert for any follow-up attacks, especially after we openly declined to pay up the USD10 mil ransom. Additionally, Nizam added that it is high time for the country to have its own cyber force to counter the threats within the cyber space. In January, a directive was given to conduct a feasibility and sustainability study on the formation of a cyber force for the nation. In the future, war will not only be fought by the likes of GI Joes on the field but also by the nerds behind the computer screen. So, please reserve some respect for the nerds.
Other related news on KLIA –
- At the back of the attack on KLIA, MAHB senior general manager of strategy Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin hinted that MAHB is reviewing the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Master Plan that was rolled out during pandemic year 2020. Instead of pursuing physical expansion, including the development of a fourth runway and a new terminal, MAHB is going down the optimisation route and looking at ways to unlock the existing potential of both KLIA’s terminals.
- Good news to those that will balik kampung to Kuala London as British Airways is set to resume its direct flights to KLIA beginning in April 2025, after abandoning the London Heathrow – KLIA route in 2021. The return of the UK’s flagship carrier is part of a broader strategy by MAHB to attract more Oneworld alliance members from Europe.
The new frontier for the country’s oil & gas industry – carbon capture
The Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Bill 2025 has been passed at Dewan Negara after the third reading by our Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli. With this, it will open Pandora’s box of investments into the carbon capture sector. East Coast states, particularly Kertih, Terengganu have been identified as one of the pioneer CCUS hubs for the country. So, what is carbon capture in the first place and how does it work? Imagine a scenario where an evil super-genius finds a way to suck all the oxygen out of the air, then buries it in the ground. Sounds like the stuff of comic books right? Well, for carbon capture, carbon dioxide is involved instead of oxygen. Carbon capture involves trapping the carbon dioxide at its emission source, transporting it to a storage location (usually deep underground) and isolating it. This means we could potentially block excess CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
Now, it begs the question of whether CCUS is Putrajaya’s card to save Malaysia’s oil and gas industry? On the surface, Putrajaya’s move towards CCUS is clearly driven by economic goals as the country can earn double revenue, from CCUS fees itself and CCUS could also extend the productive life of existing reservoirs via a process called enhanced oil recovery (EOR), or enhanced gas recovery (EGR). According to certain analysts, the benefits of CCUS may be marginal and other options should be pursued to revive the local O&G industry, which only has 15 years of oil production and 40 years of natural gas production left. Plus, environmental groups such as RimbaWatch are so against the new CCUS Bill as it does not adequately address the environmental impact of CCUS such as carbon dioxide leakage.
Source: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/748840
https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/737596
Duit Raya for the rakyat, ikhlas from Putrajaya
- 50% discount on tolls – Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi announced a 50% toll discount from March 28 (Friday) until March 29 (Saturday. at all toll plazas, except at border toll plazas. An estimated RM19.69 mil will need to be spent by the Government as compensation payments to all toll concessionaires for this first duit raya to the rakyat.
- Free 5GB data to all Malaysian telco users – Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announces free 5GB of data for all Malaysian telecommunications users. He reiterated that Putrajaya is spending RM0 for this second duit raya to rakyat as it is a gift from telco companies such as CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, TM Texh, YTL Communications, Pavo Comms, Tune Talk, redONE, REDtone and XOX Com. The data will be provided on the first day of Aidilfitri. So, please use the free data with grace, not for content you’d hide from face. Start your Aidilfitri with cappuccino, not with things best left incognito.
- Expansion of Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) distribution – Starting April 1, Putrajaya has expanded SARA to 5.4 mil recipients, from the previous figure of 700,000 recipients. Eligible recipients will receive aid up to RM2,100, a 75% bump compared to the RM1,200 payment in 2024. RM13 bil is allocated for SARA in 2025.
Source: https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=2406617
For your EYES only
On behalf of NGX, we would like to wish Selamat Hari Raya. To the employees, please balik kampung safely. To the employers, jangan buat bodo and bagi bonus raya to your employees please.
