The government is exploring tougher punishments for cybercriminals, including judicial caning, while also studying mechanisms to help victims recover money lost to online scams as part of efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s cybercrime laws.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) is conducting a comprehensive review of existing legislation to improve protection for victims of cybercrime, online harms and digital offences.
Speaking after the National Cyber Security Summit (NCSS) 2026 on Tuesday, Azalina said the study would examine legal frameworks adopted by several countries, including Singapore, where caning is among the punishments imposed for certain offences.
“At the moment, our laws mainly provide for fines and imprisonment. We are now studying whether other forms of punishment, including caning as practised in some jurisdictions such as Singapore, should be considered,” she said.
Azalina added that the review is not only focused on punishing offenders but also on strengthening support for victims, an area she believes has received insufficient attention under Malaysia’s current legal framework.
She pointed to countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, where banks may compensate victims of online fraud under certain mechanisms, noting that Malaysia currently has no similar system to help scam victims recover their financial losses.
“Our laws are largely centred on prosecuting offenders. Victims often only have the option of lodging a police report, and in many cases they never recover their money. This is one of the key issues we want to re-examine,” she said.
According to Azalina, the government will study international best practices to determine the most suitable legal measures, including sentencing options and victim protection mechanisms, as part of broader reforms aimed at tackling the growing threat of cybercrime in Malaysia.
