Communications Ministry ramps up online safety campaign amid RM800 million scam losses
JOHOR BARU: The Communications Ministry will ramp up its online safety campaign following a surge in scams involving non-existent investments, which have cost Malaysians a staggering RM800 million as of last month."
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the campaign would be expanded to rural areas, as well as primary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher learning (IPTs).
She said the ministry was taking the matter seriously due to the significant financial losses suffered by the public.
"According to police data, as of last month, losses from online scams have reached RM799 million.
"A large portion of these scams involve non-existent investment schemes. This issue is very serious.
"As such, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will train more facilitators to roll out the Safe Internet Campaign to more primary and secondary schools, IPTs, and rural areas," she said.
She was speaking at a press conference after officiating the Kita Madani Carnival X Johor State Madani Rakyat Programme 2025 here today.
Previously, it was reported that the campaign would be implemented in more national-type primary schools and public universities nationwide by the end of this year.
Nie Ching had earlier said that the campaign had so far been successfully carried out in nine primary schools.
She added that the campaign needs to be carried out more aggressively to educate the younger generation about a safer and more controlled online environment.
"For primary schools, the focus will be on cyberbullying, while for secondary schools, the approach will centre on protecting personal privacy.
"In addition, secondary schools and IPTs will focus on the use of artificial intelligence to prevent its misuse, including the dangers of 'deepfake' technology.
"For adults, we aim to educate them to be more cautious and not easily fall for get-rich-quick schemes or non-existent online investments," she said.
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