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Malaysia's parliament has begun debating the Cybercrime Bill 2026, a stringent new law targeting online criminals with severe penalties for identity theft, AI-generated fake content, fraud and intimate image abuse.
Malaysia's new Cybercrimes Bill 2026, tabled in Parliament today, will replace the 30-year-old 1997 law with modernised provisions targeting computer-based offences and online fraud.
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Kelantan's regent Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra received Foreign Minister Fahmi Fadzil for discussions on fake social media accounts and current governance matters, signalling renewed dialogue between federal and state leadership.
Cybercrime now represents roughly a third of all criminal activity in several Asian nations, with online scams emerging as the most prevalent and costly form of digital crime, according to a fresh Interpol assessment.
Malaysia's online scam losses surged to RM2.97 billion in 2025, nearly doubling from the previous year's RM1.57 billion. Investment fraud dominated, while reported cases jumped 87 per cent to 66,204.
The Selangor state government has issued a warning to residents about fake SMS messages and suspicious links related to the KitaSelangor Voucher programme. Authorities emphasise that official applications have not yet begun.
Romance scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and profitable, with AI technology enabling criminals to create convincing fake identities in minutes. Global losses now exceed billions annually.