Fahmi Calls for Rural Anti-Scam Campaigns, Warns Tech Giants of RM10 Million Fines Over Cyber Fraud

PETALING JAYA, Aug 20 — Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil has urged authorities and community organizations to expand anti-scam awareness initiatives directly into rural and remote areas to protect grassroots communities from expanding cyber fraud threats.

Speaking at the launch of the National Anti-Scam Awareness Programme 2026 here today, Fahmi stressed that anti-fraud campaigns must move beyond formal hotel forums and city-based events. Instead, he called for active collaboration with local networks such as Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBG), residents’ associations, and Rukun Tetangga to engage villagers directly.

“Not everyone can come to a hotel to join a forum or awareness campaign, so we have to take this programme to the town halls and meet directly with the villagers,” Fahmi said. He noted that while telecommunications infrastructure projects continue to expand connectivity across rural Malaysia, internet access also enables cybercriminals to target remote communities remotely.

The event was also attended by Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan.

476,000 Content Removal Requests Sent to Tech Platforms

Fahmi revealed that between Jan 1 and yesterday, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) submitted requests to social media platforms to remove a total of 476,516 pieces of non-compliant content.

Out of the total flagged content:

• Online Gambling: 302,139 posts.
• Cyber Fraud & Scams: 128,312 posts.

Meta’s Facebook platform recorded the highest share of scam-related takedown requests, accounting for 67,115 posts or 52 per cent of all fraudulent content flagged, followed by TikTok with 50,642 posts.

RM10 Million Penalty Threat for Non-Compliant Platforms

Issuing a stern warning to social media operators, the Communications Minister reminded digital platforms of their legal obligation to ensure their networks are not leveraged for illegal gambling or financial scams. Under Malaysia’s online safety regulatory framework, non-compliant platform operators face court-imposed fines of up to RM10 million.

Fahmi also reminded cyber fraud victims to immediately contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) via its 997 hotline, noting that calling the line now carries official legal weight equivalent to filing a formal police report.

He emphasized that reporting incidents within a critical 15-to-30-minute window following an unauthorized or fraudulent transaction significantly improves the ability of law enforcement and financial institutions to freeze fund transfers and recover stolen assets.

–NMT