KUALA LUMPUR, October 18 — In a proactive move to address the growing concerns over scams and cyber threats, the Malaysian government has allocated RM30 million in Budget 2025, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced today. The funding aims to strengthen the capabilities of the National Scam Response Centre and enhance the country’s overall cyber security framework.
The Prime Minister revealed that RM20 million will be dedicated to intensifying the efforts of the National Scam Response Centre, while the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) will receive an additional RM10 million to support the recruitment of 100 new posts. Anwar emphasized the urgency of tackling cyber threats, which pose significant risks to social order, highlighting issues such as online scams, child pornography, and cyber bullying that have resulted in tragic consequences.
“Suspicious transactions amounting to over RM380 million have already been blocked in our efforts to combat scams in Malaysia. However, the issue remains serious, with increasing case numbers,” Anwar stated during the Budget 2025 presentation in the Dewan Rakyat. As part of the government’s strategy, a National Fraud Portal has been launched to facilitate the automatic detection of suspicious transactions and enhance fraud prevention measures.
To further strengthen enforcement capabilities, Anwar noted that amendments to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code have been made to allow more effective action against mule account syndicates. Additionally, the upcoming Online Safety Bill aims to hold service providers accountable for ensuring the safety of online platforms, particularly to protect children from the rising threat of cyber bullying.
