Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching has called on all online platforms operating in Malaysia to demonstrate unwavering compliance with the Risk Mitigation Code, which took legal effect on June 1 under the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866), as part of a concerted government push to strengthen defences against fraudulent schemes and harmful digital content that continues to proliferate across Malaysian cyberspace.
The government's expectations centre on a fundamental requirement embedded within the Risk Mitigation Code: platform providers must establish robust processes to identify and verify the credentials of advertisers before permitting any paid advertisements to circulate on their digital infrastructure. This verification mechanism represents a critical control point in the advertising supply chain, intended to filter out malicious actors seeking to exploit platform reach for deceptive purposes. The requirement reflects international best practices adopted by major technology hubs confronting similar fraud epidemics.
Teo acknowledged the gravity of the situation, characterising the upward trajectory of online fraud incidents as genuinely concerning and warranting serious intervention. She expressed optimism that once online platforms achieve comprehensive implementation of their obligations under the code, Malaysia should observe a measurable decline in fraudulent content polluting the digital ecosystem. This optimism, however, remains conditional on genuine platform commitment rather than mere token compliance that maintains appearance while sidestepping substance.
Recognising the transitional nature of the current regulatory environment, the government has implemented a grace period extending through the end of the calendar year, allowing platforms additional time to recalibrate their operational frameworks and technological systems to meet compliance standards. This extended timeline acknowledges the substantial infrastructure adjustments required from major platforms whilst maintaining pressure to complete the transition within a defined timeframe rather than leaving implementation indefinite.
Data compiled by Teo underscores the magnitude of the problem requiring intervention. As of mid-July, social media platforms collectively removed 99,693 pieces of fraudulent content, a figure that captures only the successfully identified and actioned cases whilst suggesting substantially larger volumes of malicious material remain undetected or unaddressed. This statistic illuminates the ongoing cat-and-mouse dynamic between platform enforcement mechanisms and sophisticated fraud operations that continuously evolve their tactics.
Teo stressed that Malaysia's existing legislative architecture already provides adequate statutory tools for addressing online crimes and security breaches without requiring entirely new legislative instruments. The current framework encompasses amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA), the Online Security Act, and the Cybercrime Act, creating a comprehensive legal ecosystem theoretically capable of addressing contemporary threats. Rather than pursuing legislative maximalism through additional laws, the government's strategy prioritises allowing existing frameworks time to demonstrate measurable impact, provided implementation remains consistent and enforcement remains vigilant.
The deputy minister's remarks emerged during a separate government initiative highlighting the intersection between digital economy expansion and environmental stewardship. Speaking at the launch of ten new electric delivery vehicles deployed by SPX Express in Bukit Raja Selatan, Teo connected the rise in e-commerce activity directly to accelerating demand for last-mile delivery capacity, creating both economic opportunity and environmental imperatives for the logistics sector to transition towards cleaner propulsion technologies.
Teo commended SPX Express for proactively adopting electric vehicles within its commercial fleet, positioning the company as an exemplar among Malaysia's major logistics operators. This corporate environmental initiative aligns with government policy objectives encouraging the broader logistics industry to electrify commercial operations. The government recognises that as one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic e-commerce markets, Malaysia requires delivery infrastructure solutions that balance growth with sustainability, particularly as global fuel markets remain volatile and geopolitical uncertainty persists in critical energy-producing regions including West Asia.
Government encouragement extends beyond logistics companies to encompassing both individual vehicle users and corporate fleets adopting electric propulsion. This multisectoral approach reflects a recognition that transportation electrification requires coordination across passenger vehicles, commercial operations, and public infrastructure simultaneously. Malaysia's policy framework positions EV adoption not as an aspirational goal but as an integral component of broader economic strategy addressing fuel price volatility and supply chain vulnerabilities.
Teo highlighted SPX Express's operational model as a practical demonstration that digital economy expansion—characterised by escalating e-commerce volumes requiring sophisticated last-mile delivery networks—need not conflict with environmental sustainability commitments. Rather, she suggested that forward-thinking logistics providers can leverage the efficiency gains and cost advantages of electric vehicles to enhance operational performance whilst reducing carbon footprint simultaneously. This alignment of commercial viability with ecological responsibility offers a compelling model for other Malaysian businesses navigating dual imperatives of growth and sustainability.
Beyond fraud mitigation and logistics electrification, Teo identified a broader digital ecosystem challenge requiring government attention and coordinated action. Expanding internet coverage across Malaysia and deploying higher-speed broadband infrastructure represents only partial solutions to digital adoption objectives. Equally important, she argued, are complementary policy measures and industry practices ensuring seamless user experiences within the digital environment. Without attention to user experience quality, security, and convenience, enhanced connectivity alone cannot translate into meaningful digital inclusion or economic participation across Malaysian society.
