KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — The Election Commission's (EC) digital systems should be prioritised for protection under the National Critical Information Infrastructure (NCII), as they serve as an important source of official election information for voters.
Universiti Teknologi MARA security and political analyst Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said protective measures and contingency plans should be in place to ensure voters can continue accessing official information if the systems are disrupted.
Commenting on claims of a cyberattack on the EC website, he said preliminary reports were insufficient to establish the extent of the impact. Nirwandy also emphasised the need to distinguish between access disruptions and breaches affecting data confidentiality or integrity.
“The alleged cyberattack may well have occurred, but we need to establish its extent,” he said on Bernama TV's 'Malaysia Petang Ini' programme, titled Cybersecurity: Protecting Electoral Integrity, at Wisma Bernama today.
Nirwandy added that the EC website provides information on candidates, polling centres, and election developments, so any disruption could be more serious if it led to the spread of false information, public confusion, and a loss of confidence in the electoral process.
He highlighted the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) role in addressing false information, including artificial intelligence-generated content and deepfakes.
As such, Nirwandy advised the public to remain vigilant against impersonation attempts, warning that the EC could also be impersonated to deceive the public.
“Various agencies and critical sectors such as the EC should not be underestimated. The EC needs to prepare contingency plans to ensure that vital election information remains accessible if its main channels are disrupted, while strengthening data protection and cooperation with cybersecurity agencies,” he said.
Earlier, the EC said it is working with MCMC and relevant parties to protect its website against intrusion after the commission announced through a social media livestream that the platform was believed to be under cyberattack.
EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said they have submitted a report to the relevant parties as an initial measure to ensure their systems remained protected.
