KUALA LUMPUR: The government is in the process of drafting a new act to enhance digital safety, said the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
In a parliamentary written reply, she said the move was in line with current needs and technological developments such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the rising cybercrime cases.
"The new act encompasses provisions relating to the procedures and enforcement of a "kill switch" to enhance digital safety.
"Additionally, the government, through relevant agencies, is scrutinising several other legal provisions such as the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613), the Penal Code (Act 574), and the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593) to enable the return of fraud proceeds to victims," she said in reply to Rodiyah Sapiee (GPS-Batang Sadong).
Rodiyah asked about the measures taken by the government to protect the people, especially the elderly from non-existent investment scams.
Azalina said the new act was following a meeting by the Working Committee on Proposed Formulation of New Laws Related to Cybercrime held on Feb 5, involving 16 government agencies.
The meeting was chaired by Azalina, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.
"Based on the meeting, it was found that the existing legislation does not keep pace with rapid technological advancements.
"This leads to an increasing prevalence of online fraud and makes existing platforms no longer secure, and contaminated with various crimes, including online scams.
"Also, there is an urgent need to establish a 'kill switch' system through legislation to immediately halt fraudulent activities on any domain or online platform in Malaysia."
Azalina said the government took the issue of online crime seriously.
"Efforts towards dealing with this issue have already started and we will ensure that irresponsible individuals no longer have any opportunity to deceive the people through online fraud after the new law to deal with this issue is approved by the Honourable Members (in Dewan Rakyat) and to be enforced later."