Kuala lumpur: A total of RM5.16 million in scam proceeds was returned to victims between January and July 2026, representing 65 per cent of the RM7.94 million seized through the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. "For us, the return of money to victims is among the enforcement outcomes that can be directly felt by the people," he stated at a press conference after officiating the 6th International Cyber Resilience Conference (CRC) here today.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the figures also indicated that cyber threats were becoming increasingly serious, with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reporting that scam operations in Southeast Asia alone generated tens of billions of dollars annually. Addressing online sexual abuse figures, the Home Minister highlighted an increase in cases involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from 68 in 2024 to 152 last year, with another 100 cases recorded up to the middle of this year.
As of April 2026, through Ops Cyber Guardian, involving the cooperation of seven countries, authorities have successfully arrested 69 individuals and seized 498,694 digital files, including 205,000 files of child sexual abuse material. Additionally, as of August 28, a total of 746 Malaysians had fallen victim to fake job offers abroad.
The Home Minister stressed the urgent need for the government and enforcement agencies to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) applications to combat increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals, especially considering the cross-border nature of such crimes. He emphasized that modern cybercriminals are not conventional offenders but operate in syndicates, utilizing rapidly evolving technologies.
"In the context of our discussion, it is about how these AI tools can be utilised among policymakers and enforcement agencies to face criminals who are also sophisticated," he remarked. He further noted that generative AI is a new phenomenon, underscoring the necessity for law enforcement to evolve alongside technological advancements.
The 2026 CRC, themed "Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Global Cyber Resilience," focuses on the nation's capability to prevent cyber threats and ensure critical functions continue to operate amid disruptions. The conference spans three days in a hybrid format, featuring around 321 physical attendees and 149 online participants from both domestic and international locations.
Strategic focuses of the conference include two forums related to the Cyber Crime Fusion Centre (CCFC), aligned with the CCFC Establishment Study, which is advancing into its second phase. This phase encompasses the development of a Governance Model and an Operational Model, involving the Home Affairs Ministry (KDN) through the Institute of Public Security of Malaysia (IPSOM), in collaboration with the Cyber Security Academia Malaysia (CSAM) and relevant strategic partners.