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THE National Security Council (MKN) has called for heightened security across all of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities following a threatening SMS allegedly sent from an Indonesian phone number, which warned of plans to set fire to the country’s gas infrastructure.
Deputy Prime Minister II Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof confirmed that a staff member at Petronas headquarters had received the threat after failing to respond to an earlier message from the same sender.
“The message came from an Indonesian number,” said Fadillah. “But who sent it? That is still under police investigation.”
Speaking at the ASEAN Women, Peace and Security Summit 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, he added that the National Security Council (MKN) had issued instructions for heightened surveillance and security at all LNG facilities, particularly those in Bintulu, Sarawak.
“We do not know whether the threat is directed specifically at LNG in Bintulu or in Sabah. The message only mentioned ‘LNG’ in general,” he said.
According to Fadillah, the threatening SMS was sent after the unidentified individual received no reply to a prior message.
“They had asked a question and, when they received no response, issued a threat to burn our LNG. But we do not know which specific facility,” he said.
The government, he stressed, is treating the threat with utmost seriousness and will not compromise on national energy security.
In a statement issued on Monday, the MKN confirmed that it had received reports of a security threat against several LNG installations in the country and had directed all relevant facilities, especially in Bintulu, to tighten protective measures.
Malaysia is one of the world's top LNG exporters, and any disruption to its facilities could have far-reaching implications for both domestic energy security and global supply chains.
Separately, any threat to Malaysia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Bintulu must not be taken lightly, as it directly concerns both national security and economic stability, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has warned.
Uggah said the state government welcomed all precautionary measures undertaken by the federal authorities and hoped they would be sufficient to deter or neutralise any real risk.
“I am not sure of the nature of the threat. Like everyone else, I only learnt about it through media reports,” he said.
“What matters now is that swift steps are taken to protect our assets if the threat proves to be genuine,” he added.
Uggah, who also chairs the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), said the state government had not received formal details but acknowledged the situation following a public statement issued by the National Security Council (MKN).
He called for clear and timely communication from the relevant authorities to prevent unnecessary alarm.
“Disasters can happen at any time. So I too need further clarification from the responsible agencies. The public deserves accurate information,” he said, speaking to reporters after officiating the Euro Asia Civil Engineering Forum in Kuching on Tuesday.
The LNG complex in Bintulu is one of Malaysia’s most strategic energy assets and a key contributor to national exports, making it a critical facility requiring continuous protection.
On Monday, the MKN announced that it had ordered the implementation of heightened security protocols at all LNG sites in Bintulu following a reported threat involving a foreign-registered phone number.
Authorities have yet to confirm the credibility of the threat, but investigations are ongoing. - September 9, 2025