Malaysia can boost cyber fraud fight through global alliance, says criminologist

GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia can strengthen its fight against cyber fraud through greater intelligence sharing, joint investigations and cross-border enforcement under a new global alliance, said senior criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy.

He said the establishment of the International Alliance Combating Telecom and Cyber Fraud in Lianyungang, China, was a timely response to the rapidly evolving threat.

"Cyber fraud has fundamentally changed the nature of crime. Criminal syndicates are no longer confined by national borders and increasingly exploit digital platforms, human behaviour and sophisticated technologies, including artificial intelligence," he said.

He said the participation of 46 founding countries, 34 observer countries and international organisations such as the United Nations and Interpol reflected growing international recognition that telecom and cyber fraud was a global criminal phenomenon.

For Malaysia, he said, the alliance could provide a platform to strengthen cooperation with China and other countries in tackling increasingly sophisticated online and investment scams.

"Malaysia can benefit significantly through faster information exchange, coordinated investigations, technological cooperation, professional training and stronger mechanisms for cross-border enforcement," he told Media Prima.

Sundramoorthy said the involvement of the Home Minister at the inaugural conference also highlighted the importance Malaysia placed on strengthening public security cooperation and disrupting transnational criminal networks.

He said the alliance should focus not only on arrests, but also on disrupting criminal syndicates, tracing and recovering illicit proceeds, improving intelligence capabilities and strengthening public awareness.

"The real test will be whether international commitment can be translated into practical operational cooperation — faster information exchange, joint investigations, disruption of criminal networks and recovery of illicit proceeds," he said.

He said the initiative could be particularly valuable for Southeast Asian countries, where criminals increasingly operate across borders while exploiting differences in jurisdictions and enforcement capabilities.

Sundramoorthy said China's role in establishing the alliance demonstrated the importance of collective action as technology continued to reshape the criminal landscape.

"In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, international cooperation is no longer an option; it is an essential component of effective crime prevention and public security," he said.