September 15, 2025 | 06:26 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Several members of parliament and ministers in Malaysia have received threatening emails containing AI-generated fake videos, from an unknown person demanding a ransom of US$100,000.
Malaysian Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that the email included screenshots of the alleged fake videos related to inappropriate activities, and threatened to spread the videos if the demands were not met.
"Based on investigations, it was found that the emails used nearly identical sentences, accompanied by similar screenshots, and were believed to have been sent from the same email address," Fahmi said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as reported by Antara on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
Fahmi admitted to also receiving a similar threatening email. "I have also received the same email," Fahmi said.
Several members of parliament and state officials who received the emails included Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli; Subang MP Wong Chen; Sungai Petani MP Taufiq Johari; Malaysian Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Adam Adli, and Selangor Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneurship Exco Najwan Halimi.
Additionally, the emails were also addressed to Senator Manolan Mohamad; Kulim assemblyman Wong Chia Zen; and Selangor Islamic Affairs and Cultural Innovation Exco Fahmi Ngah.
Fahmi emphasized that the government is taking this incident seriously. He has instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to collaborate with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to detect and track the perpetrators who sent the threatening emails through the Gmail application.
The Malaysian government stressed that sending threatening messages is a violation under Section 233 of the 1998 Communications and Multimedia Act, which can be punished with a fine of up to 500,000 Malaysian ringgits, and imprisonment for up to two years, or both.
Such actions can also be investigated under Section 503 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.
"The MADANI government (Anwar Ibrahim's government) will not compromise with anyone who abuses technology to threaten or deceive the public. Every effort will be made to ensure that the criminals are prosecuted for public safety," Fahmi emphasized.
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