KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia suffered losses amounting to
RM4.57bil from illegal electricity use linked to bitcoin mining
activities over the past five years.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Fadillah Yusof (pic), who disclosed this to Parliament yesterday,
said 13,827 premises were caught by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) for
stealing electricity to power cryptocurrency mining operations, mainly
bitcoin farms, since 2020.
“This
activity does not only pose safety risks to consumers, it also
threatens the stability of our economy and presents a serious danger to
the national energy supply system,” he said in a parliamentary written
reply.
Fadillah, who is Energy Transition and Water
Transformation Minister, said the scale of losses required a robust
response, with TNB developing an internal database containing complete
records of owners and tenants of premises suspected of electricity theft
for crypto-mining purposes.
“This database plays a crucial role in identifying and
monitoring suspicious premises and forms the basis for enforcement
inspections,” he added.
Fadillah said TNB, in cooperation with the
ministry, Energy Commission (ST) and enforcement agencies, has
intensified coordinated operations to combat the illicit activity.
“Through these collaborations, TNB is able to seize bitcoin
mining machines and take effective action against the perpetrators,” he
said.
According to him, public awareness campaigns have also been
rolled out via press statements, TV segments and various mass
communication channels to educate the public on the dangers of
electricity theft and to encourage tip-offs through TNB’s official
reporting channels.
Fadillah said further measures included
stakeholder engagements with MPs, ministries, ST and judicial officers,
as well as technical monitoring under the Distribution Transformer
Meter pilot project to detect abnormal usage patterns and potential
theft.
Smart meters are also being installed to enable real-time monitoring and quick detection of meter tampering.
“The
ministry, together with ST and TNB, remains committed to curbing meter
interference and the illegal use of electricity, especially for bitcoin
mining.
“These integrated enforcement efforts, awareness
programmes and strategic engagements are essential to minimising losses
to the electricity supply industry and safeguarding the integrity of the
nation’s energy system,” he said.
Separately, Deputy Energy
Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir
said they had established a multi-agency committee to tackle
electricity theft linked to illegal bitcoin mining operations.
The
committee include representatives from the Finance Ministry, Digital
Ministry, Home Ministry, Bank Negara Malaysia and the police, and will
examine policy, legal and cross-agency issues related to fraudulent
power use.
“The committee will also facilitate matters that require intervention at the policy level to curb electricity theft.
“Instead
of viewing this only from the enforcement angle, the committee will
adopt a holistic approach,” he said during the committee-stage
winding-up of the 2026 Supply Bill for the ministry yesterday.
Panic hits public as new emergency system is stricken
PETALING JAYA: It was a matter of life and death for some, but help was not forthcoming – Malaysia’s newly-launched emergency system is having teething problems.
This included delays in dispatching ambulances for emergencies and ambulances not showing up, leaving victims and patients with medical emergencies in dire straits.
A first responder said the Next Generation Malaysian Emergency Response Services
He said it detects cases which were at a distance and outside of the stipulated radius, making it difficult to quickly attend to patients who are in serious condition.
“The system was constantly down and showed error messages when alerts were sent to the hospital.
“Sometimes it would hang and we had to refresh it several times for the alert to go through,” said the first responder on condition of anonymity.
“We should just stick to the former Malaysian Emergency Response 999 (MERS999) system.
“This system should have been properly tested first. There was a reason why we had borders when it comes to responding. This was to ensure quick response to emergencies. However, this borderless technology is not helping. In fact, it is hampering efforts to render quick aid,” he added.
The Star learnt that in one fatal case, there was no response on the app even after 15 minutes.
In another, where an accident occurred at around 8.30am, an ambulance only arrived after 10am.
In another case, an accident victim had to be taken to hospital in the vehicle of a passerby as the ambulance did not arrive on time, the victim’s brother claimed.
In one case in Telok Air Tawar, Butterworth, two ambulances were sent to the same spot and 999 could not identify which was the actual ambulance sent, said Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran, adding that he had received many complaints that the system was not functioning properly.
“This failure has a direct impact on the safety and lives of the people,” he said in a statement.
A survey on social media also showed claims of some users lamenting their experiences including long waits for ambulances in emergencies.
“This situation is no longer a minor technical issue; it has the potential to become a national disaster that could cost lives. The failure of such a critical system, which serves as the nation’s lifeline, is completely unacceptable,” Lingeshwaran said.
He urged the government to immediately implement urgent rectification measures and explain the cause of the failure and the steps being taken to prevent a recurrence.
“Conduct a thorough audit of the entire NG999 infrastructure and operations,” he said. “I also call upon members of the public who have used the NG999 System since its launch on Saturday to share your experiences with me. Your feedback is crucial for us to push for more accountable improvements.”
Lingeshwaran said he had also been contacted by several NGO ambulance services informing him that they are now receiving non-stop emergency calls directly from the public.
The NG999 went live on Nov 16.
The Communications and Health ministries as well as Telekom Malaysia Bhd said in a joint statement that the Health Ministry has also continued to strengthen efforts to enhance field response.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Health (MOH), efforts to strengthen on-ground response continue to be enhanced through the addition of ambulances, the reorganisation of personnel deployment in strategic areas, as well as the involvement of volunteer bodies and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as part of the nation’s emergency response capacity. Continuous assessments of coordination capability and asset readiness are also being carried out together with the relevant agencies,” they said in a joint statement.
In July last year, Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, TM Technology Services Sdn Bhd (TM Tech) entered into a RM1.25bil concession agreement with the government, to develop the system.
NG999 is an integrated strategic digital system that was supposed to enhance resource and data sharing between emergency call centres and related central agencies, thus improving the efficiency of emergency services.
Giant greed: According to internal documents reviewed by Reuters, Meta projected that roughly 10% of its 2024 revenue – around US$16bil – came from advertisements tied to scams, banned goods and other fraudulent content. — Reuters
Fake content and scam advertisements are a bane on social media. But it gets worse when platform owners actively allow such content just to make millions.
Wong CHUN WAI National Journalism Laureate Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai is the chairman of Bernama. The views expressed here are solely the writer’s own.
16 Nov 2025
A MONTH ago, I found a video of myself on social media promoting an investment scam promising huge returns.
I was flabbergasted and horrified. The content looked like a TV interview I had given sometime back.
The difference was that my voice had been altered, using artificial intelligence (AI) skills, to talk about investment opportunities.
The original content was on human capital and the importance of training. The modified content, using the AI version of my voice, sounded just like the real thing. It was so good it was hard to tell the difference.
I do not know why I was chosen by these scammers as I do not see my unsolicited endorsement to be of any real value.
But this is the story. I filed a complaint with Facebook on Oct 1 and they replied on Oct 8, thanking me for the report.
“We use a combination of technology and human reviewers and identify content that goes against our Community Standards. In this case, we did not remove the content that you reported,” the reply said.
As I wrote this article, I re-checked and found the content still floating around on FB, promising that “every Malaysian who invests from RM1,200 is guaranteed to earn at least RM210,000 in the first month!” It adds: “Limited spots available.”
In short, Facebook owner Meta did not see anything wrong with the fake content using my face and voice to cheat people. Meta’s reply was mind-boggling and made me feel helpless about combating such fraud.
Last week, Datuk Seri Michael Chong cautioned the public against fraudulent schemes that employ AI to replicate the faces and voices of the Prime Minister and Yang di-pertuan Agong to dupe unsuspecting individuals.
The MCA Public Service and Complaints Bureau chief said he had identified two online advertisements featuring the PM and King. When they were reported, the ads were removed, but the syndicate had re-uploaded similar content, this time using the face sofa nm panda prominent business figure.
Using AI, the syndicate created investment advertisements requiring a payment of RM1,100 while promising returns of up to RM200,000.
Why did Facebook fail to act? Well, we may know now. An investigation by Reuters has cast a harsh light on the business practices of Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp.
According to internal documents reviewed by Reuters, Meta projected that roughly 10% of its 2024 revenue – around Us$16bil (Rm66.72bil) – came from advertisements tied to scams, banned goods, and other fraudulent content.
What is deeply troubling is that the documents suggest that Meta’s enforcement efforts against these bad actors were intentionally limited, constrained by “revenue guardrails” and automated systems that only block ads when there is at least a 95% certainty of fraud.
For Malaysia and for users of social media everywhere, the implications are profound.
This is not just about one tech giant’s failure; it is about the structural tensions between platform profit models and user protection, and the regulatory void that allows serious harm to happen.
In Malaysia, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has already expressed alarm, noting that some of that revenue could stem from Malaysian-market ads, and has summoned Meta for answers.
Allowing platforms to be used for such scams and profiting from it makes Meta an accomplice to such cybercrimes.
These platforms should be held to account for the content they host and monetise.
If a platform is earning money from fraud-linked ads, that raises questions of complicity, not just oversight failure.
When a company’s business model allows or even subtly incentivises questionable advertisers, that means it does not value ethics.
It has been reported that Meta internally estimated the scale of “high-risk” scam advertisements at Us$15bil (Rm61.9bil) of such ads per day across its platforms.
The company’s justification is that it will only block advertiser accounts when automated systems are 95% sure the advertiser is engaging in fraud.
If it is not absolutely certain, it just charges them higher ad rates – effectively profiting from uncertainty.
In my case, despite my protest, we can assume that Meta did not find enough evidence that it was a fraud.
It was a case of “looks like you, sounds like you but we are not sure it’s a fraud despite your complaint”.
A Reuters report on Nov 11 said that “Meta knowingly profits off of them” – meaning the social media giant knew about ads for fake products and scam posts and projected that it could earn up to Us$16bil from running these ads featuring banned goods or scamming posts.
Meta is so powerful that it can snub protests and calls from regulators requiring it to publish clear data on scam advertising volumes and the ad revenue derived from them.
If the company doesn’t have any ethics why would it care two hoots about accountability? It knows the world is addicted to its products.
Responsibility does not seem to exist in the company statement.
The only way out is to teach Malaysians how to identify scam ads, report suspicious content, and hold platforms and advertisers to account.
Digital literacy is a frontline defence, and also, simply stop being greedy. If it sounds too good to be true, then it’s a scam.
Meta knows we are hooked on Whatsapp, Instagram and Facebook, and the world will not function a day without these products. It is untouchable.
We have miserably consented and surrendered all our personal data to Meta to use these products for free.
Now you know why and how these scammers get our details. Meta is enriching itself, and each time regulators want to haul it up, it cries that it’s an assault on the platforms.
Wong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang, and has served The Star for over 35 years in various capacities and roles. He is now group editorial and corporate affairs adviser to the group, after having served as group managing director/chief executive officer. On The Beat made its debut on Feb 23 1997 and Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for the occasional press holiday when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star.
“Among the forecast areas are the east coast and north of Sabah,” he said during a media engagement event organised by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) on preparations for the north-east monsoon here yesterday.
He said Sabah is expected to experience episodes of above- average rainfall between Dec-ember and February.
“Our teams will be monitoring the situation daily,” he said.
Ambun said Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and Sarawak are also forecast to experience heavy, continuous downpours between November and Dec-ember.
The situation is expected to persist in Pahang, Johor, Sabah, and Sarawak in January next year.
Sabah and Sarawak are also forecast to experience heavy, continuous rainfall next February.
“The said areas are expected to receive regular rainfall except for Sabah. Below average rainfall has, meanwhile, been forecast in west Sarawak in March next year,” he said.
Ambun said warnings on extreme weather episodes will be issued at least a week prior to the incidents.
Warnings on continuous rain, strong winds, and rough seas will also be issued at least three days prior to the episodes.
“Updated forecasts will be issued daily,” he said.
Nadma director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah said more than 100,000 personnel will be on standby for the coming north-east monsoon season.
This comprises personnel from the Armed Forces (4,770), police (20,600), Fire and Rescue Department (15,640), Civil Defence Force (15,390), and Rela (47,100).
Close to 40,000 assets have also been readied in preparation for the year-end monsoon.
This includes 2,555 boats, 1,843 four-wheel drives, 1,172 trucks, 25 helicopters, and 34,092 lifejackets.
He added that 3,683 flood hotspots have been identified nationwide based on Irrigation and Drainage Department findings.
“Regardless, the government is prepared for the coming north-east monsoon season,” he told reporters after the briefing yesterday.
Abdul Halim said coordination among agencies has been improved compared with the north-east monsoon last year.
“The distribution of the Bantuan Wang Ihsan aid has also been improved, with more efficient payouts,” he said.
He added that residents play an equally vital role in flood operations.
“Take note of the early signs, such as rising waters, among others. Please evacuate once you notice this,” he said.
On a related matter, Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said 29 specialised rapid response teams are on standby nationwide to strengthen flood rescues.
He said these teams will focus solely on floods to minimise disruption to daily station operations.
“Our stations have boats and other flood rescue assets, but officers must also stand by for fires and other emergencies. The rapid response teams, however, will be ready to respond to flood emergencies directly,” he said.
He added that each team comprises about 18 personnel and that several operating bases nationwide have been established to store flood rescue assets.
“If there is a forecast, the team can obtain the assets there directly,” he added.
Gear up: Motorcyclists stopping along the Penang Bridge to take shelter and to put on their raincoats as a heavy shower hits the area. — KT GOH/The Star
Gear up: Motorcyclists stopping along the Penang Bridge to take shelter and to put on their raincoats as a heavy shower hits the area. — KT GOH/The Star
Public urged to stay vigilant , prepared
GEORGE TOWN: Penang and Kedah are on full alert as Malaysia braces for the La Nina season which is expected to bring heavy rain and possible flooding until December.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said all technical agencies and rescue teams had been mobilised.
“The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has carried out maintenance of retention ponds, rivers and drains at identified flood-prone areas,” he said yesterday.
He said DID had serviced hydrological stations, telemetric systems and flood-warning equipment to ensure they function properly. Under the state Disaster Management Committee, boats, mobile pumps, lorries and four-wheel-drive vehicles are on standby for quick deployment.
Flood operation control centres at state and district levels have also been activated.
Chow said 389 temporary evacuation centres across the state could be opened at short notice, while coordination with the Welfare Department and other agencies had been strengthened.
“From the agencies to local communities, everyone has a role in alerting authorities should any incident occur,” he said.
In Kedah, Civil Defence Force deputy director Major Muhammad Suhaimi Mohd Zain urged the public to stay vigilant and prepare for possible floods.
“Keep important documents in safe places and get ready an emergency bag with medicines, torchlight, dry food, water, clothing and power banks,” he said.
He reminded motorists to drive slowly in heavy rain and to switch on headlights.
“Preparedness and caution are key to minimising risks during La Nina,” he said.
Universiti Sains Malaysia atmospheric physicist Assoc Prof Dr Yusri Yusup said La Nina would typically bring increased rainfall and extended wet seasons, though its effects differed across regions.
“Coastal areas, hilly regions and low- lying towns are especially vulnerable to flash floods, landslides and crop damage,” he said.
He noted that MetMalaysia’s National Climate Centre had forecast a brief La Nina episode in early 2026, which could disrupt rainfall patterns before conditions return to normal.
“If it materialises, heavier monsoon rains can be expected in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and parts of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said. - MRAN HILMY,
Over-60s remain dangerously under-vaccinated even as cases surges
A senior citizen receiving an Influenza vaccine at Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Lumpur. —AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
Positive rate for tested influenza samples in Malaysia
As of Week 40 (Sept 29-Oct 5), Influenza A and its subtypes accounted for more than 98% of all positive influenza samples in Malaysia.
During the week, the dominant influenza strain circulating in Malaysia was Influenza A (H3), which accounted for 81.76% of all positive influenza samples detected nationwide.
PETALING JAYA: The spotlight has been on schools in the current flu season, with more than 6,000 down with influenza.
However, another vulnerable group – the elderly – also needs attention, as studies have shown that the vaccination rate is low among those aged 60 and above.
A 2023 study by researchers at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) Medical Molecular Biology Institute found that only 5.5% of 13,110 elderly participants involved had received influenza jabs.
This falls far below the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended coverage rate of between 50% and 90%.
The study defined the elderly as individuals aged 60 and above.
“The influenza vaccination coverage rate among the Malaysian elderly was lower than that in Singapore, Brazil and Greece,” the study said.
One of the study’s authors, Dr
Nor Azila Muhammad Azami, said influenza is often perceived as a childhood illness, which has led to its impact on the elderly being overlooked.
Nor Azila, a research fellow at the UKM institute, said Malaysia must advocate greater awareness on the benefits of influenza vaccination for Malaysian seniors.
Malaysian Influenza Working Group chairman Prof Dr Zamberi Sekawi said the country was seeing a clear rise in influenza cases, mirroring trends in neighbouring countries.
He said the spike in flu cases was driven by seasonal weather changes, low population immunity rates and increased gatherings, particularly in educational institutions.
“The current influenza positive rate is higher compared with the same period last year, indicating stronger community transmission,” he said.
According to figures from WHO’S Influenza Laboratory Surveillance Information portal, the positive rate for tested influenza samples in Malaysia reached 20.82% during Week 29 (Sept 22-28), the highest recorded this year.
This marks a sharp rise from the 5.15% recorded in Week 27 (June 30-July 6), reflecting an ongoing upward trend.
As of Week 40 (Sept 29-Oct 5), Influenza A and its subtypes accounted for more than 98% of all positive influenza samples in the country.
Prof Zamberi said flu vaccination coverage among Malaysian adults remained at below 5%, far short of WHO’S target.
“The Health Ministry’s initiative to fund flu vaccinations for older adults is excellent, but it must be further strengthened,” he said.
Zamberi said older adults, young children, those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women and healthcare workers remained the most vulnerable.
“I would like to urge the ministry to increase awareness of flu among high-risk groups.
“Strengthening public awareness, making vaccines more accessible and encouraging healthcare providers to recommend vaccination can significantly reduce flu-related hospitalisations and death,” he said.
In February, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced the expansion of the Influenza Immunisation Programme to cover not only frontline healthcare workers but also senior citizens aged 60 and above with at least one chronic illness.
The voluntary vaccination drive began on Feb 18, a move expected to benefit over 170,000 high-risk senior citizens who can make appointments through the Mysejahtera app.
NTERACTIVE: Malaysian seniors under-vaccinated as flu cases surge
A senior citizen receiving an Influenza vaccine at Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Lumpur. —AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The current flu season has put the spotlight on school students, with over 6,000 down with influenza.
However, attention is also needed for another vulnerable group - the elderly.
Authorities have not released figures on how many seniors have been infected.
However, health experts say more needs to be done to encourage them to get flu shots.
This is because studies have shown that the vaccination rate in Malaysia is very low among individuals aged 60 and above.
For instance, a 2023 study by researchers at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Medical Molecular Biology Institute found that only 5.5% of 13,110 elderly participants in the study had received influenza vaccinations.
The vaccination figure falls far below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended coverage rate of between 50% to 90%.
The study defined the elderly as individuals aged 60 and above.
“The influenza vaccination coverage rate among Malaysian elderly was lower than that among the elderly in Singapore, Brazil, and Greece,” the study said.
One of the study’s authors Dr Nor Azila Muhammad Azami said influenza is often perceived as a childhood illness, leading to the overlooking of its impact on the elderly.
Nor Azila who is a research fellow at the UKM institute said Malaysia needs to advocate for greater awareness about the benefits of influenza vaccination in the elderly.
Malaysian Influenza Working Group chairman Professor Dr Zamberi Sekawi said the country is seeing a clear rise in influenza cases, mirroring trends in neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Singapore.
He said the increase in flu cases is driven by seasonal weather changes, low population immunity, and increased gatherings, particularly in educational institutions.
“The current influenza positive rate is higher compared to the same period last year, indicating stronger community transmission,” he said.
According to the figures from WHO’s Influenza Laboratory Surveillance Information portal, the positive rate for tested influenza samples in Malaysia reached 20.82% during Week 29 (Sept 22-28), the highest recorded this year.
This marks a sharp rise from the 5.15% recorded in Week 27 (June 30-July 6), reflecting an ongoing upward trend.
As of Week 40 (Sept 29-Oct 5), Influenza A and its subtypes accounted for more than 98% of all positive influenza samples in Malaysia.
During the week, the dominant influenza strain circulating in Malaysia was Influenza A (H3), which accounted for 81.76% of all positive influenza samples detected nationwide.
As of Week 40 (Sept 29-Oct 5), Influenza A and its subtypes accounted for more than 98% of all positive influenza samples in Malaysia.
During the week, the dominant influenza strain circulating in Malaysia was Influenza A (H3), which accounted for 81.76% of all positive influenza samples detected nationwide.
Flourish logoA Flourish chart
Zamberi said that flu vaccination coverage among Malaysian adults remains at below 5%, far short of the WHO’s target.
“The Health Ministry’s initiative to fund flu vaccinations for older adults is excellent, but it must be further strengthened,” he said.
Zamberi stressed that older adults, young children, those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women and healthcare workers remain the most vulnerable.
“I would like to urge the Ministry of Health to increase awareness of flu among high-risk groups.
“Strengthening public awareness, making vaccines more accessible, and encouraging healthcare providers to recommend vaccination can significantly reduce flu-related hospitalizations and death,” he said.
In February, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced the expansion of the Influenza Immunisation Programme, which will cover not only frontline healthcare workers but also senior citizens aged 60 and above with at least one chronic illness.
The voluntary vaccination drive began on Feb 18, a move expected to benefit over 170,000 high-risk senior citizens, who can make appointments through the MySejahtera app.
On Monday (October 13), Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said that about 6,000 school students nationwide have been infected with influenza so far, prompting the closure of several schools on the advice of their respective district health offices.
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Tags / Keywords:
influenza , flu season , school students , elderly , influenza vaccinations , Malaysia , vaccination rate , World Health Organization , seasonal weather changes , Influenza A (H3) , MySejahtera app
Percentage of influenza cases by virus type
The bigger a coloured area, the more dominant a particular influenza strain was at that time.
Hover the bar graphs below for details
Percentage of influenza cases by virus type
The bigger a coloured area, the more dominant a particular influenza strain was at that time.
Hover the bar graphs below for details
Zamberi said that flu vaccination coverage among Malaysian adults remains at below 5%, far short of the WHO’s target.
“The Health Ministry’s initiative to fund flu vaccinations for older adults is excellent, but it must be further strengthened,” he said.
Zamberi stressed that older adults, young children, those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women and healthcare workers remain the most vulnerable.
“I would like to urge the Ministry of Health to increase awareness of flu among high-risk groups.
“Strengthening public awareness, making vaccines more accessible, and encouraging healthcare providers to recommend vaccination can significantly reduce flu-related hospitalizations and death,” he said.
In February, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced the expansion of the Influenza Immunisation Programme, which will cover not only frontline healthcare workers but also senior citizens aged 60 and above with at least one chronic illness.
The voluntary vaccination drive began on Feb 18, a move expected to benefit over 170,000 high-risk senior citizens, who can make appointments through the MySejahtera app.
On Monday (October 13), Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said that about 6,000 school students nationwide have been infected with influenza so far, prompting the closure of several schools on the advice of their respective district health offices.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
