TMR

by SHAHRIN AIZAT NOORSHAHRIZAM 

THE government has established a special working committee and technical taskforce to strengthen efforts against online scam syndicates, amid growing concerns over the rise in digital fraud cases.

Government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the committee was formed on June 18 following a special retreat held to address issues surrounding online scam crimes.

He said the committee’s first meeting is expected to take place soon, bringing together multiple ministries, government agencies and key industry players.

“This involves various ministries, agencies and departments. For the first time, the banking sector, telecommunications industry, as well as major platforms, including social media companies, will also be involved,” he said at a press conference today.

Fahmi said the initiative reflects the government’s proactive approach to strengthening enforcement, legislation and investigative efforts to curb online scams.

He said the coordinated effort is also aimed at making Malaysia’s digital ecosystem safer for users.

“This is a proactive step by the government to identify the issues we face and address them through enforcement, legislation and investigations so that Malaysians will be safer when using digital platforms,” he said.

Fahmi said the government expects the newly established committee to deliver tangible progress within a relatively short period.

However, he declined to disclose specific strategies being discussed, saying doing so could compromise ongoing efforts.

“Yes, we expect that in the not-too-distant future, several matters can be addressed. I cannot speak too openly because those watching us may also include scammers,” he said.

He added that the cross-agency approach had previously been adopted to combat child sexual crimes and had proven effective through several special operations.

“So we expect that with this working committee in place, firmer, faster and more comprehensive action can be taken against scammers,” he said.

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by HIDAYATH HISHAM

EXISTING pig farms in Tanjung Sepat are not required to submit environmental impact assessment reports as they were already operating before the 2015 EIA order came into force.

Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Deputy Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (picture) said the EIA requirement only applies to the opening of new pig farming areas involving a standing population of 2,000 pigs or more.

“Therefore, existing farms in Tanjung Sepat are not subject to the requirement to prepare the EIA report because they had been operating before the EIA order was implemented,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Syed Ibrahim was replying to Kuala Langat MP Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, who asked what enforcement action had been taken against traditional pig farm operators allegedly causing drainage pollution, odour and disturbance to residents in Tanjung Sepat.

Ahmad Yunus also asked about measures to rehabilitate river and coastal pollution in the area.

Syed Ibrahim said pig farming activities in Selangor are regulated under the Selangor Pig Farming Enactment 1991.

He said the Selangor Veterinary Services Department, as the approving authority, is responsible for regulating, licensing and enforcing compliance on farms to ensure operators follow licensing conditions, modern farming guidelines and environmental protection requirements.

Any operator that fails to comply with licence conditions or is found to have caused pollution or public nuisance can face action by the state authority under existing laws.

From NRES’ perspective, Syed Ibrahim said pig farming activities are not specifically regulated under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

However, he said the Department of Environment (DOE) takes all pollution complaints seriously by conducting investigations and coordinating follow-up action with the relevant authorities according to their respective jurisdictions.

He said DOE will also work with related agencies to conduct field inspections based on intelligence or pollution complaints, especially when the source of pollution has not been identified.

“NRES and DOE are always prepared and committed to providing cooperation and technical assistance to the state government and the Veterinary Services Department in monitoring river water quality in affected areas,” he said.

On rehabilitation measures for rivers and coastal areas in Tanjung Sepat, Syed Ibrahim said the Selangor government, together with NRES and related agencies, must continue strengthening recovery efforts.

He said long-term actions by DOE include stricter enforcement against pollution sources governed under the Environmental Quality Act, including firm action against premises that breach discharge standards.

The ministry will also carry out integrated operations with relevant agencies to prevent, detect and investigate environmental pollution cases.

Targeted enforcement will be intensified in high-risk areas, particularly upstream of water intake points and locations identified as major contributors to pollution load.

Syed Ibrahim said river water quality monitoring would also be strengthened by expanding monitoring station networks and using newer technologies such as drones and remote sensing.

He said the ministry will continue working with the Selangor government to ensure the issue is addressed comprehensively for the wellbeing of residents around Tanjung Sepat.

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by HIDAYATH HISHAM

THE government is exploring the use of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) to ease the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) online enforcement workload, after the regulator handled 345,712 harmful content cases since Jan 1.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil (picture) said the volume of harmful content has placed heavy pressure on MCMC, as every takedown request still requires supporting documents and justification before it can be submitted to digital platforms.

“Each piece of content requires supporting documentation and justification explaining why it is deemed harmful. According to MCMC, each complaint takes, on average, from 30 to 45 minutes to process and file with the relevant platforms,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Fahmi was replying to a supplementary question from Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail on whether the government would increase MCMC’s manpower, technical expertise and funding to match its expanded responsibilities under new online safety laws.

Based on 30 minutes per case, he said the workload was equivalent to 19.7 years of continuous processing time.

He instructed MCMC to review its processes to ensure its human resources are not overstretched or wasted.

But he said the issue does not rest with MCMC alone, as digital platforms must also take greater responsibility in detecting and removing harmful content more efficiently.

“For example, of the total figure I mentioned, 91% relates to gambling and scams,” he said.

Fahmi said such content is often generated repeatedly and promoted through paid advertising systems, making enforcement more difficult when platforms fail to act quickly.

He said the Online Safety Act and related subsidiary regulations are aimed at strengthening platform accountability, including by requiring harmful content to be removed more efficiently and automatically.

On the use of AI, Fahmi said both regulators and platforms must adopt the technology to manage online harms at scale.

He said platforms have already used AI to detect content that violates community guidelines, but enforcement gaps remain.

“Previously, ByteDance itself used AI to detect violations of community guidelines. However, we observe that platforms still struggle to effectively use AI to remove harmful content,” he said.

Fahmi said this showed the need for both sides to improve their use of AI, with platforms strengthening detection and removal systems while MCMC uses the technology to manage enforcement more efficiently.

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By AKMAR ANNUAR

MALAYSIA will maintain a fiercely independent and non-aligned foreign policy as geopolitical tensions, weakening global norms and unilateral economic measures test the ability of smaller nations to protect their interests.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the country’s foreign policy is not based on passivity or nostalgia, but on a deliberate effort to preserve Malaysia’s agency in an increasingly uncertain and transactional world.

“Our foreign policy will remain independent, and that is fiercely independent, proactive and non-aligned,” he said in his keynote address titled “Strategic Foreign Policy and Regional Cooperation: A Malaysian Perspective” at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (39APR) today.

Anwar said Malaysia would continue to engage all major partners, including the US and China, without being forced into rigid alignments that do not serve the country’s national interest.

He said peace, prosperity and national security must remain at the forefront of Malaysia’s external policy, particularly as global rivalries increasingly affect regional stability, trade routes, energy security and diplomatic space.

He said Malaysia’s approach requires the country to take clear positions on issues of principle while preserving constructive ties with friendly nations.

“We will not hesitate to adopt positions, cultivate relationships and support initiatives that advance our values, beliefs and interests,” he added.

During the Q&A session at 39APR, Anwar said Malaysia’s engagement with China should be viewed through the country’s own experience, rather than through the lens of external powers.

“I personally don’t share this phobia about the potential threat to the South China Sea. Yes, there are issues, but thus far, Malaysia’s position and experience have been very meaningful exchanges with China,” he said.

Anwar added that Malaysia has managed disputes with its neighbours through direct engagement and diplomacy, adding that this approach also applies to issues involving China.

He also said Malaysia has never treated disagreements with neighbouring countries as a reason to escalate tensions, noting that similar issues exist with Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines.

Anwar said this was why engagement must remain the preferred option, especially for a small trading nation that relies on regional stability and open channels of communication.

He said Malaysia is not seeking to project itself as a major power, but wants to work closely with ASEAN and other partners to strengthen regional confidence and reduce the risk of miscalculation.

Anwar said ASEAN centrality remains the cornerstone of Malaysia’s foreign policy, even as the regional bloc faces pressure from crises in Myanmar, border tensions, major-power rivalry and the changing conduct of global trade.

He said ASEAN must continue to uphold a united front while engaging dialogue partners and all relevant sides in regional conflicts.

He also warned that international norms are being eroded by selective enforcement, double standards and the growing tendency of powerful states to disregard obligations when these no longer suit their interests.

He said such double standards risk undermining trust among countries in the Global South, especially when some nations appear able to ignore international law and norms while others are held to the strictest standards of compliance. 

“Global rules should be shaped with, not merely for, developing nations,” he said.

Anwar said global governance must better reflect contemporary realities by giving Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific greater representation in decision-making.

He said the answer to weakening global institutions is not less multilateralism, but more effective cooperation, particularly in areas such as climate change, food security, cyber threats and the protection of civilians in conflict zones.

Anwar also said Malaysia’s diversity gives the country an advantage in building understanding across regions, cultures and civilisations at a time when global divisions are being sharpened by ignorance and mistrust.

He said Malaysia’s foreign policy would therefore continue to be principled but not rigid, ambitious but not reckless, and independent without abandoning the spirit of community and collaboration.

Anwar said Malaysia would continue to defend its national interests while remaining engaged with ASEAN, the Global South and established partners in the West.

This approach allows Malaysia to navigate global uncertainty without being drawn into the rivalries or assumptions of larger powers.

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