KUALA LUMPUR (April 29): Several handphones belonging to senior Government officers including Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and Chief Secretary to the government Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Bakar were hacked last week.

According to a source familiar with the matter, some Ministers' handphones were also similarly affected, but it is not immediately known how many or exactly whose handphones have been hacked.

“The (police) Special Branch has confirmed that the phones have been hacked and that it seems there has been a concerted effort to hack the handphones of these individuals,” the source told theedgemarkets.com, adding that police reports have been lodged over the series of attacks.

It is learnt that Thomas had indicated to some of his close associates late last week that he had discontinued using his old handphone number as that had been hacked, and that he is now using a new number.

Prior to his appointment as the A-G, Thomas did not carry a handphone. He only got one after his appointment last year following Pakatan Harapan's win at the 14th General Election last May.

Last May, some politicians claimed that their handphones had been hacked resulting in questionable messages sent from their devices. Those affected had lodged police reports, according to news reports.