KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — Malaysians have lost about RM2.9 billion to online scams, a figure Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today described as a serious and escalating national threat.

Speaking at the Google 2026 APAC Online Safety Dialogue, Fahmi said the scale of losses showed the urgent need for stronger coordinated action between the government, tech companies, and regional partners such as Asean.

“We need better tools to ensure the safety of our citizens.

“I look forward to more constructive engagement between NSRC and Google to address how the changing landscape of bad actors can be tackled using Google’s tools,” he said.

The NSRC refers to the National Scam Response Centre.

He said the money lost to scams could have been channelled into public development, including schools and hospitals.

Fahmi praised Google’s efforts in tackling online fraud and said Malaysia is open to deeper collaboration with technology firms and the NSRC.

He also stressed that digital access alone is not enough, noting that Malaysia’s near-universal connectivity must be matched with stronger online safety safeguards.

Beyond prevention, he said greater attention should be given to supporting scam victims through education and psychological assistance.

Fahmi warned that scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, particularly with the use of artificial intelligence, which allows criminals to adapt quickly and evade detection.

He added that the cross-border nature of scams requires tighter inter-agency cooperation to effectively combat the threat.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — A new regional initiative, “Scam Ready Asean,” was officially launched today at the Google 2026 APAC Online Safety Dialogue event in Kuala Lumpur.

The programme is designed to enhance digital safety and combat online scams across Southeast Asia, as cyber threats continue to rise alongside the region’s fast-growing digital economy.

Backed by a US$5 million (RM19.7 million) contribution from Google, the initiative will combine scam prevention tools, public awareness efforts, and large-scale digital literacy training across Asean member states.

It aims to reach 3 million people with accessible online safety resources, while providing deeper digital literacy training to 550,000 individuals.

A further 3,000 master trainers will be developed to support grassroots education and community outreach.

To ensure effectiveness across diverse communities, the programme will collaborate with over 20 local and regional partners, tailoring content to different cultural and social contexts.

Beyond raising awareness, “Scam Ready Asean” focuses on equipping individuals with practical skills to identify, question, and respond to online scams.

As digital adoption accelerates, the initiative seeks to address increasing risks such as fraud, misinformation, and cyber-enabled threats, while strengthening both technical safeguards and public resilience.

The programme forms part of Asean’s broader push to build a safer, more inclusive, and trusted digital ecosystem across the region.