PETALING JAYA: The government is stepping up its efforts to tackle the growing threat of online scams and cybercrime with a series of major initiatives aimed at strengthening the nation’s digital security and law enforcement capabilities, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that at the forefront of these efforts is the drafting of the Cybercrime Bill, which would provide a more comprehensive legal framework to address various forms of cyber offences.
"The proposed legislation is expected to close existing loopholes, enhance prosecution processes and offer stronger protection to the public and organisations in the digital space.
"To reinforce national cyber defence, the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) has established the Cybersecurity and Cryptology Development Centre. This centre will focus on boosting digital sovereignty and advancing the country’s cyber resilience through research, development and talent-building in cryptology and cybersecurity technologies," he said in his Budget 2026 speech in Parliament, on Friday (OCT 10).
For efforts against financial scams, Anwar said the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) was now directly managed by the police.
"With this move, authorities aim to ensure faster and more efficient handling of financial fraud cases.
"The government has allocated RM12mil to support the centre’s operations and technological upgrades," he added.
Anwar said the police D11 division has also been allocated RM20mil to modernise digital forensics systems and enhance specialised expertise within the division.
"It is part of the government's efforts to protect vulnerable groups, especially children, further.
"In addition, a new Behavioural Science Unit will be established to analyse criminal patterns, behavioural trends and offender profiling — a move aimed at improving investigative accuracy and crime prevention strategies.
"These measures reflect the government’s firm commitment to creating a safer digital environment for Malaysians, amid rising cases of online scams and increasingly sophisticated cyber threats," he said.
