Kuala Lampur, April 1 -- Economic crime has long weighed on Malaysia's economy. Between 2018 and 2023, losses from corruption alone are estimated at RM277 billion (approximately US$60 to 65 billion), or about RM1,609 per Malaysian, more than a full month of minimum wage during that period for many Malaysians, which puts the real-world impact of these statistics into perspective. 

The shadow economy is also significant, estimated at up to 30.2 per cent of GDP, driven by smuggling, tax evasion and unreported business activity. On the digital front, online fraud reported losses reached RM5.62 billion from 2023 to 2025, spanning phone scams, e-commerce fraud and fake investment schemes.

Yet the past 18 to 24 months have marked a t...