SHAH ALAM, July 20 — A total of 8,014 online fraud-related charges have been recorded this year as of May, a significant increase from the 6,140 registered in 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
Zahid said the figures show not only more online fraud cases, but also increasing financial losses suffered by victims.
“There is an urgent need to enact a comprehensive law to deal with cyber crime more effectively, in line with the increasingly complex and sophisticated cyber security threat landscape,” he said during the second reading of the Cybercrime Bill 2026 in the Dewan Negara today.
The bill, which comprises eight parts and 61 clauses, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat on July 1.
The proposal seeks to repeal the Computer Crimes Act 1997 and better address increasingly complex and evolving cyber crimes.
Zahid also said 10,245 people had been arrested as of May this year for telecommunications fraud, e-commerce scams, investment scams, and fake loan schemes.
He added that arrests for online fraud-related offences have risen steadily, increasing from 16,244 in 2022 to 23,753 in 2025, reflecting authorities’ continued efforts to tackle cyber crime.