KUALA LUMPUR: The government plans to introduce online scam legislation following the tabling of the 2025 Budget, as part of its commitment to enhancing online security measures.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said that online scams extended beyond telecommunications crimes, encompassing e-financial fraud, love scams, e-commerce deception, non-existent loans, and fake investments.
She said this in response to a supplementary question by Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) regarding the government's plans to establish a legal framework for stricter online security measures for banks and telecommunications companies.
"This is a pressing concern for the public. Scammers operate in various domains, including e-financial fraud and love scams. The real issue, as highlighted by Kota Melaka (Khoo), is data security. Even with our trust in banks, third parties can access and compromise our information," she told the Dewan Rakyat today.
While acknowledging her limitations in banking expertise, Azalina said that Bank Negara had implemented a 997 hotline for quick action to prevent financial losses.
"The fact remains that these scams, involving hundreds of billions, are happening, which is why awareness is crucial," she said.
Azalina assured that the government would introduce online crime legislation post-budget to facilitate discussions on various related issues.
She also said proactive measures had been taken to combat online scams, including amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code aimed at addressing cybercrime, especially financial fraud linked to mule accounts.
Recent amendments introduced new provisions targeting individuals who allow their bank accounts to be misused, aiming to combat mule accounts.
In July, the Dewan Rakyat approved amendments that grant police the authority to seize funds from accounts suspected of criminal involvement.
Furthermore, the amendments include a new section, 116D, empowering police officers of at least Sergeant rank to seize or halt transactions involving suspicious funds in financial institutions.