Security warning at Malaysia LNG facilities after threat to ‘burn them down’

A security warning by Malaysian authorities for liquefied natural gas facilities was issued after an employee at state energy firm Petronas received a threat by phone to burn them down, a deputy premier said, according to state media.

Petronas, or Petroliam Nasional Berhad, confirmed it was working with authorities after the National Security Council on Monday ordered LNG facilities in Sarawak to tighten security following an unspecified threat.

The Bintulu complex is Petronas’ flagship LNG facility, with an annual production capacity of 29.3 million metric tons.

The government has tightened security at LNG facilities in Sarawak and Sabah after a Petronas employee at the company’s headquarters received threatening text messages, deputy premier Fadillah Yusof was quoted as saying.

“I was informed that threatening text messages were received, originating from a phone number in Indonesia. However, who was behind it is still under police investigation,” he said.

Fadillah, according to Bernama, said a request was made in the text message and after receiving no response, the sender then threatened to burn LNG facilities. It did not say what the request was.

“He asked for an answer but because there was no response, he threatened to burn our LNG – but who knows which one,” he said.