MIRI: Sarawak recorded 5,875 cybercrime cases involving losses of RM233.48 million from 2024 to April 2026, with investment scams accounting for the largest share of the financial losses.
Deputy Minister for Women and Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus said the worrying trend underscored the need to strengthen public awareness and digital security literacy in facing increasingly complex cybercrime threats.
She said 1,957 cases involving losses of RM76.71 million were recorded in 2024, before the number rose to 2,662 cases with losses of RM109.17 million in 2025.
“Within just one year, the number of cases increased by 36.1 per cent, while the amount of losses surged by 42.3 per cent.”
She said this when officiating the Program Wacana Bestari: ‘Klik Bijak, Waspada Jenayah Siber’ here on Wednesday (Aug 26).
Elaborating, Rosey said e-commerce scams were the most frequently reported category of cybercrime, with 1,612 cases recorded during the period.
However, she said investment scams recorded the highest financial losses at about RM132.9 million, or approximately 57 per cent of the total losses.
Rosey, who is also the Bekenu assemblywoman, said cybercrime was no longer merely an issue involving technology, security or enforcement, but had become a social challenge that could affect the lives and well-being of the community.
“Cybercrime is no longer just an issue of technology, security or enforcement, but also a social challenge that can affect the lives and well-being of our community.”
She said the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development would continue strengthening community resilience through education, enhanced digital literacy and community empowerment.
“These efforts are important to ensure that the public has the knowledge and ability to protect themselves and their families from becoming victims of cybercrime.”
Rosey also expressed hope that participants of the programme would become agents of awareness by sharing the knowledge gained with their families, colleagues, neighbours and communities.
The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to improve public awareness of cyber threats, as online scams and other forms of cybercrime continue to pose challenges to communities in Sarawak.
