The IGP has announced a crackdown on online scams following a loss of RM1.22 billion, implementing AI and forensic techniques to track down cybercriminals.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — Malaysia incurred losses surpassing RM1.22 billion as a result of cybercrime within a mere 10 months last year, stated Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail.

He stated that the astonishing number, documented from January to October 2024, indicated the increasing magnitude and complexity of cybercrimes, which include financial fraud, identity theft, data breaches, and online deceit.

"As stated by Cyber Security Malaysia, over 5,900 cyber incidents were documented in 2023, which encompasses 3,705 cases of fraud. The number of reported data breaches surged by an astonishing 1,100 percent in comparison to the prior year," he remarked during his opening address at the Police Special Dialogue III 2025 held here today.

Mohd Khalid stated that the statistics indicate a troubling truth: cybercrime has transitioned from being a marginal threat to a significant and immediate risk to the nation's economy, security, and social trust.

He emphasized the necessity for the police to swiftly evolve into a digitally empowered and intelligence-driven organization in order to stay abreast of emerging threats.

We are improving our digital forensic capabilities, reinforcing intelligence coordination, and broadening cooperation both among agencies and internationally.

"However, addressing cybercrime is not solely the responsibility of law enforcement agencies; it necessitates the participation of the entire government, the private sector, and society as a whole," he stated.

The discussion organized by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), with assistance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Alpine Integrated Solution, and Koperasi Polis Diraja Malaysia Berhad (KPDRM), attracted 550 attendees, comprising enforcement agencies, academic institutions, technology specialists, and members of civil society.

The event included discussions among ministers aimed at enhancing Malaysia's digital defense frameworks, expert panels addressing law and technology, and workshops focused on cyber response mechanisms and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. — Bernama