In a Facebook post tonight, Onn Hafiz said he received a warning notification from Apple about an attempted mercenary spyware attack targeting his phone and Apple account.

He shared a screenshot of the warning from Apple stating that the company had detected a “mercenary spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple account”.

“This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do. Although it’s never possible to achieve absolute certainty when detecting such attacks, Apple has high confidence in this warning,” it read.

The notification said mercenary spyware attacks are “exceptionally rare and vastly more sophisticated than regular cybercriminal activity or ordinary malware”.

“These attacks cost millions of dollars and are individually deployed against a very small number of people, but the targeting is ongoing and global,” it read.

Mercenary spyware is malicious software designed for targeted surveillance and sold by private companies to governments, law enforcement agencies and, in some cases, private individuals.

Onn Hafiz said he viewed the matter seriously because it involved data security, communication confidentiality, personal rights and an attempted invasion of privacy.

“I strongly condemn any form of digital spying, invasion of privacy and irresponsible misuse of technology,” he said.

The Johor Barisan Nasional and Umno chairman said he would lodge a police report and file an official complaint with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.