Only RM6.7m recovered from RM2.97b scams, Lim Guan Eng demands urgent action

Only RM6.7m recovered from RM2.97b scams, Lim Guan Eng demands urgent action



Lim Guan Eng today urged Bank Negara to spearhead a ‘whole of government’ crackdown on digital fraud, cyber theft and scams, warning that billions of ringgit in life savings are at risk. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Lim Guan Eng has called on Bank Negara to lead a comprehensive government initiative against digital fraud, cyber theft, and scams in Malaysia, citing the grave risk to billions of ringgit in life savings.
• Highlighting a surge in such cases affecting individuals from various professional backgrounds, he termed it a "national crime wave" with devastating impacts on families.
• Lim criticized the current reliance on the police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission due to their limited resources, and advocated for stricter monitoring by banks.
• He pointed to an alarming recovery rate, with only RM6.7 million retrieved from the RM2.97 billion lost to scams in 2025.

First Published: Thursday, 24 Sep 2026 3:32 PM MYT


PETALING JAYA, Sept 24 — Lim Guan Eng today urged Bank Negara to spearhead a “whole of government” crackdown on digital fraud, cyber theft and scams, warning that billions of ringgit in life savings are at risk.

The Bagan MP said elected representatives nationwide have been swamped with complaints from victims, ranging from ordinary Malaysians to professionals such as doctors, engineers and lawyers. He described the surge in cases as a “national crime wave” that has devastated families and crushed hopes for a better future.

Lim stressed that leaving enforcement solely to the police or the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was inadequate, as both agencies lacked the resources and expertise to tackle the scale of the problem.

“Banks are the vital intermediary enabling this digital fraud and theft to happen,” he said, adding that financial institutions should be required to suspend accounts showing suspicious large withdrawals.

Citing official figures, Lim noted that only RM6.7 million was recovered out of RM2.97 billion reported lost to scams in 2025 — a recovery rate he called “alarming and unacceptable”.

He said Bank Negara must lead a coordinated response involving all government departments to curb the surge in crime and protect the life savings of Malaysians.