More than 10,000 phishing websites blocked - MCMC

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has blocked 10,962 websites found to be involved in online cheating or phishing from 2008 to January this year.

The Communications and Multimedia Ministry said MCMC was also involved in a special task force comprising Bank Negara Malaysia and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to tackle such cheating and protect the security of internet users.

"Several initiatives and actions have been taken encompassing awareness programmes for the public," the ministry said in a written reply to Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (BN-Tasek Gelugor) in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.

The ministry said phishing referred to online cheating resulting in victims losing money, especially via Internet banking.

Such cheating cases were under the jurisdiction of PDRM and the ministry did not have specific information on the losses of victims, he said.

Meanwhile, in a written reply to Datuk Sapawi Ahmad Wasali (BN-Sipitang) the ministry said the current broadband penetration rate in Malaysia was 77.9 per cent and targeted to reach 95 per cent by 2020.

It said based on the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and 2016 ICT Development Index, Malaysia was number two in the ASEAN region after Singapore (for broadband penetration). -- Bernama