PUTRAJAYA: The government is conducting a comprehensive study to strengthen legal protections for victims of cybercrime, with a focus on improving support for those affected by online fraud, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said the study, led by the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU), would examine laws relating to cybercrime such as online scams and tougher penalties, including caning, as adopted in countries such as Singapore.
"In Malaysia, the penalties are generally fines and imprisonment. As such, this is one of the areas we will be examining," she told a press conference after a panel session at the launch of the 2026 National Cyber Security Summit (NCSS) on Tuesday (July 7).
Azalina also said the existing legal framework of Malaysia is largely geared towards prosecuting offenders, while victims often have little recourse beyond lodging police reports.
In many cases, victims are unable to recover their losses, she said.
She added that, unlike in the United Kingdom and Australia, where victims of online scams may be reimbursed by banks under certain circumstances, Bank Negara has yet to adopt a similar approach.
"Through this study, we want to examine the approaches taken by other countries, including the types of penalties imposed and the forms of protection or assistance available to victims.
"At present, our laws are largely focused on punishing perpetrators. Much of our legal framework is centred on offenders, whether under the Penal Code or the Criminal Procedure Code.
"Victims, on the other hand, often have very little recourse beyond lodging a police report and, in many cases, they do not recover their money.
"We need to study why this difference exists. It may be due to their insurance systems or other factors," she said.
Earlier in her speech, Azalina said the study was prompted by growing public frustration over the handling of online scam cases. She noted that victims are often unable to recover their money and face uncertainty over whether to seek help from the police or the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Stressing that effective implementation is just as important as legislation, she said public confidence in the legal system would depend on whether victims receive timely protection and meaningful remedies, rather than being left to bear their losses.
"If the law is there and the enforcement agencies are there, they have to respond at a very fast pace for the public. Only then will the confidence be there," she said.
