SELANGOR recorded a total of 5,091 online fraud cases in 2024, leading to significant financial losses amounting to RM386.4 million, according to the Selangor State Legislative Assembly.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari shared this concerning data during a session today, revealing that while the number of cases had decreased slightly by 169 compared to the 5,260 cases reported in 2023, the total monetary losses were substantially higher.
"The total losses due to online fraud in 2023 stood at RM292,093,647.17, but in 2024, this figure rose to RM386,426,494.32," Amirudin said.
"This marks an increase of RM94 million between the two years," he added in response to a question from Azmizam Zaman Huri (PH-Pelabuhan Klang), who had inquired about the total financial impact and the number of online fraud cases in Selangor.
Amirudin noted that many of the victims were retirees or individuals without full-time employment.
"The primary victims of these fraud cases are those who are retired or do not have a full-time job.
“This is because full-time workers are generally busy with their daily tasks, while scammers often operate during office hours, avoiding late nights or periods when people are at rest," he explained.
He also called on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to ramp up its efforts in combating fraudulent online content, urging more stringent actions to block, reduce, and prevent such criminal activities.
In a separate development, Amirudin shared that Selangor was making significant progress in shifting its energy sources from coal to gas, marking a key transition toward greener energy technologies.
The state government, through its subsidiary Worldwide Holdings Berhad, has successfully secured a major contract for a large-scale 300-megawatt floating solar panel project.
Amirudin highlighted several other green energy initiatives, including the development of a new power plant in Pulau Indah, Port Klang, a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Jeram, Kuala Selangor, and a mini-hydroelectric station in Batang Kali, Hulu Selangor.
“The Pulau Indah power plant, owned by Worldwide Holdings Berhad, will generate 1,200 megawatts of energy from gas. Currently in its trial phase, it is expected to begin operations by mid-year or, at the latest, by August,” he said.
Amirudin added that additional green energy projects were also underway, such as two hydroelectric projects in Batang Kali and Kerling, as the state works to transition to more sustainable energy sources.
His remarks came in response to a supplementary question from Jefri Mejan (PN-Ijok), who had sought further details on Selangor's green technology initiatives. – February 25, 2025
