Kuala lumpur: The government is conducting a special study to develop a more comprehensive protection mechanism for cybercrime victims, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She announced that the study by the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) would examine measures to assist online scam victims in recovering lost funds and consider the possibility of introducing stricter penalties for offenders.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, BHEUU would also review best practices from other countries in protecting victims' rights and assess their suitability for implementation in Malaysia. Azalina shared that some countries, like Singapore, include caning as a part of offenders' punishment, whereas in Malaysia, penalties currently involve fines and imprisonment. These differing approaches will be studied for potential adaptation.

Azalina highlighted that Malaysia's existing legal framework primarily focuses on prosecuting offenders under laws such as the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code, while protection for victims needs further enhancement. She noted the current limitations faced by victims, who often have few options beyond filing a report, with many unable to recover their lost money.

The study will also explore mechanisms adopted in countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, where online scam victims may receive refunds under certain circumstances. Azalina mentioned that in the UK and Australia, banks involved in scams sometimes refund the victim's money. However, in Malaysia, Bank Negara has yet to decide on implementing such a mechanism, although it is under consideration in the study. The timeline for completing the study remains undetermined.