Fahmi calls for stronger online anti‑fraud outreach in rural areas amid rising cyber threats

Pak Fahmi, Malaysia's Communications Minister, has called for stronger online anti-fraud outreach programs in rural areas due to a rise in cyber threats. The government's National Anti-Scam Awareness Programme 2026 aims to raise awareness in these regions, which are often overlooked by large-scale initiatives in cities. The minister emphasized the importance of engaging grassroots communities, such as Parent-Teacher Associations, resident groups, and Rukun Tetangga, to directly educate the public and share real-life examples of fraud victims.

He noted that the challenge lies in the fact that scammers can now access remote villages without leaving their offices. According to Pak Fahmi, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) removed 476,516 online content items related to various offences during the first part of the year, with 302,139 of them involving online gambling and 128,312 containing fraudulent elements.

Facebook recorded the highest number of fraudulent content removals, accounting for 52% of the total. The minister warned that social media platforms must ensure their services are not misused for criminal activities, with platforms failing to meet safety standards facing fines up to RM10 million. Victims of fraud are urged to report incidents to the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997, similar to making a police report.

Immediate action, preferably within 15 to 30 minutes of the incident, can help authorities block money transfers and recover funds.