The Merdeka declaration against cyber scams and crimes: a necessary start

The announcement came as Malaysia hosted the 19th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) in Melaka, where member states adopted a declaration to combat cybercrime and online scams. For Malaysia, this was not just another regional statement; it was the first building block of what should rightfully be called The Merdeka Declaration Against Cyber Scams and Crimes—a necessary start in reclaiming digital freedom and safety across ASEAN.

In spirit, “Merdeka” means liberation—freedom from subjugation, fear, and exploitation. Translated into today’s context, it means freedom from the predation of digital fraudsters, online syndicates, and transnational networks who profit from human misery.

These scams are not just about stolen money or data. They are about stolen trust, dignity, and hope. Entire communities have been victimized—students deceived by false job offers, retirees conned by investment frauds, and families torn apart by the emotional and financial wreckage of online deceit.

For too long, the fight against cybercrime in Southeast Asia has been reactive.

Police raids on scam centers in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar—some controlled by organized crime—have been episodic, not systemic. Yet, the region’s interconnectedness, its rapid digitalisation, and its booming online economy make it uniquely vulnerable. With 460 million internet users, ASEAN’s digital economy is projected to exceed US$1 trillion by 2030.

But without safeguards, this growth will be undermined by the “scam-demic” that has already cost the region billions of dollars.

The new ASEAN Declaration on Combating Cybercrime and Online Scams, adopted in Melaka, represents the first serious attempt to build a coordinated framework for enforcement, data sharing, and financial tracing. It commits ASEAN members to strengthen legal cooperation, train law enforcement agencies, and establish anti-scam centers. Malaysia has proposed a new working group with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) focusing on money laundering and cross-border financial investigations—a timely initiative. This aligns with the broader ASEAN Plan of Action on Combating Transnational Crime (2026–2035), providing a decade-long roadmap for implementation.

But declarations are only the start. The region’s real test lies in enforcement. Scams evolve faster than legislation. Artificial intelligence is being weaponized for deception, while cryptocurrencies make tracing illicit flows increasingly complex. Deepfake technologies can now mimic trusted public figures to defraud unsuspecting citizens. ASEAN’s security response must therefore be agile, integrated, and preventive, not merely punitive.

Malaysia’s leadership is crucial here. As ASEAN Chair in 2025 and host of the AMMTC, Malaysia must ensure that its own domestic enforcement—through the Royal Malaysian Police’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department and the National Scam Response Center—becomes a model for regional best practices. The establishment of a regional “Merdeka Digital Command Center” could serve as a nerve hub, synchronizing intelligence, sharing data, and coordinating responses to transnational cyber threats.

ASEAN must also treat cybercrime not only as a security issue but as a civilizational one. Digital scams thrive on inequality, misinformation, and lack of governance. They corrode the moral and ethical fabric that binds societies together. In this sense, “Merdeka” must also mean moral emancipation—the freedom to trust, to transact, and to live without fear in digital spaces.

The term “Merdeka Declaration” carries deeper resonance because it reflects ASEAN’s need for sovereignty in cyberspace. Just as Malaysia’s independence in 1957 represented liberation from colonial control, ASEAN’s cyber-independence must represent liberation from digital predators. The Declaration should evolve into a legally binding convention by 2030, harmonizing laws across member states. This would allow ASEAN to finally move from aspirational language to operational justice.

Equally vital is private-sector collaboration. Telecom operators, fintech platforms, and social media companies must become active participants in ASEAN’s collective defense. Without their cooperation in tracing transactions, blocking suspicious accounts, and verifying user identities, cybercrime will remain one step ahead. Civil society, academia and social media companies must become active participants in ASEAN’s collective defense also play their role in education and awareness. A region with half a billion young users cannot afford digital illiteracy.

For Malaysia, the timing is opportune. Under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, the government has woven digital transformation into its economic and social development agenda. The National Scam Response Center’s formation, the CyberSecurity Malaysia initiatives, and collaborations with tech giants like Google and Meta are already laying the groundwork for regional emulation. By proposing the Merdeka Declaration as a signature ASEAN initiative, Malaysia can combine diplomacy with digital ethics—anchoring ASEAN’s cyber resilience as part of its broader peace and security architecture.

Still, the road ahead is long. Without sustained political will, the Declaration risks becoming just another diplomatic gesture. ASEAN must embed anti-scam cooperation into its economic frameworks, from the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) to RCEP implementation. Only then can regional trade and digital innovation coexist securely.

The Merdeka Declaration Against Cyber Scams and Crimes must therefore be understood as the beginning of ASEAN’s collective digital awakening. It is an assertion that sovereignty in the 21st century is not only about territory or resources—it is about the integrity of information, the safety of citizens, and the protection of truth itself.

With Malaysia leading by example, the region can turn its declarations into durable institutions. The spirit of Merdeka—freedom with responsibility—must now extend into cyberspace. It is time for ASEAN to liberate its people not just from colonialism or conflict, but from the invisible chains of deception that have ensnared millions

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Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is Professor of ASEAN Studies and Director of the Institute of Internationaliation and ASEAN Studies (IINTAS) at the International Islamic University Malaysia.