Malaysia is considering legal action against Facebook over what authorities described as insufficient cooperation in combating online scams linked to the platform, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on May 24th, 2026.
Speaking to reporters after a multi-agency retreat on anti-scam measures, Fahmi said the government was prepared to pursue legal measures if the platform failed to demonstrate stronger collaboration with regulators and enforcement agencies. He indicated that discussions would continue through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
“In my opinion, legal action may have to be taken, but I leave it to the MCMC on this, and give them a last opportunity to prove that they do want to cooperate with the government,” Fahmi told reporters, as quoted by the New Straits Times.
According to the minister, MCMC has issued 271,472 requests to online platforms for the removal of harmful content, 91 percent of which involved online scams and gambling-related material. Of that total, 81 percent of gambling-related cases and 58 percent of scam-related cases were linked to Facebook.
The remarks come amid escalating financial losses in Malaysia. A Home Ministry parliamentary reply on January 21st, 2026, reported MYR2.77 billion ($684.6 million) in scam-related losses during 2025, the highest annual total in three years. Cumulative losses between 2023 and 2025 reached MYR5.62 billion ($1.39 billion).
Bank Negara Malaysia blocked MYR1.2 billion ($296.4 million) in scam-related transactions over the past year, Fahmi added.
