Kuala lumpur:<Text>

A total of 91 percent of 271,472 pieces of content ordered to be taken down by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) were identified as being related to online scams and gambling.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil stated that this data was recorded from January 1, 2026, until yesterday.

He revealed that 81 percent of online gambling content and 58 percent of online scam content was detected on Facebook. Fahmi shared insights from the Assistant Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, indicating that last year, Malaysian banks successfully blocked about RM1.2 billion that scammers attempted to steal using the banks' security mechanisms. These remarks were made during a press conference following the closing ceremony of the Inter-Agency Retreat on Combatting Online Scam 2026.

The situation is alarming, with scam syndicates reportedly defrauding Malaysians of RM2.7 billion last year. Present at the event were various dignitaries, including the Ministry of Communications secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, MCMC managing director Abdul Karim Fakir Ali, advisor of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) Rajeshpal Singh Sandhu, and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.

Fahmi highlighted that the meeting proposed creating a special committee involving enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, telecommunications companies, and banking institutions. This committee aims to enhance cooperation in combating scam crimes in a coordinated and sustained manner and is expected to form within two to three weeks after a proposal is presented to the Cabinet.

The committee's formation is crucial for identifying new techniques used by scammers, including the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI), more swiftly and ensuring enforcement actions are coordinated effectively. During the event, Fahmi also witnessed the exchang e of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between MCMC and GASA.

The MoU seeks to expand international cooperation in fighting online fraud, focusing on knowledge sharing, best practices, capacity building, advocacy, and raising public awareness about the threat of digital scams. This collaboration underscores MCMC's ongoing commitment to enhancing the country's ability to tackle online fraud and supports the government's efforts to create a safer, more trusted, and resilient digital ecosystem.