Kuala Lumpur:The 2026 Cyber Crime Bill introduces measures allowing courts to issue property restriction orders to prevent the dissipation of scam proceeds, even before formal charges are filed against suspects.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that clause 54 of the bill grants the court authority to issue orders to prevent or halt legal violations, thereby offering protection to victims of cybercrime.

The types of orders that can be issued include cessation orders, restitution orders to victims, compliance orders, and property restriction orders to prevent the dispersal of assets, including scam proceeds. Ahmad Zahid explained in a written response to the Dewan Rakyat that applications for such orders can be made by the Public Prosecutor or an authorized officer.

Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, noted that the bill, passed by Parliament in July, was crafted to address online scams that exploit artificial intelligence, such as identity impersonation, deepfakes, and digital manipulation. The response was to a question from Datuk Shamshulkahar Mohd Deli (BN-Jempol) concerning the sufficiency of the current legal framework to combat AI-based online fraud and the need for specific provisions to expedite actions against syndicates and safeguard victims.