A Number Of Malaysian Ministers And Members Of Parliament Received A Surel Containing Threats

Screenshot of the threatening email received by Malaysian Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil, shared via Facebook Fahmi Fadzil. (ANTARA/HO-Facebook Fahmi Fadzil)

JAKARTA - A number of lawmakers and ministers in Malaysia received electronic mail (email/serel) threats of spreading fake videos based on artificial intelligence, by unknown people demanding a reward of US$100.000.

Malaysian Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated in the electronic letter that the perpetrators accompanied screenshots of fake videos allegedly related to inappropriate activities, and threatened to spread videos if the demands were not met.

"Based on the search, the emails used almost identical sentences, accompanied by a similar screenshot, and are believed to have been sent from the same email address," Fahmi said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday.

Several lawmakers and state officials who received the email were Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli; Subang MP Wong Chen; Sungai Petani MP, Taufiq Johari; Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Malaysia Adam Adli, and Exco Pemuda, Sports and Entrepreneurs Selangor, Najwan Halimi.

In addition, email was also addressed to Senator Manolan Mohamad; Kulim invitation board expert, Wong Chia Zen; and Exco Islam and the Empowerment of Selangor Innovation, Fahmi Ngah.

Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil himself admitted that he also received similar threat emails.

"I have also received the same email," said Fahmi.

Fahmi emphasized that the government took this incident seriously. He has ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to cooperate with the Malaysian Royal Police (PDRM) to detect and track the perpetrators who sent threat emails via the Gmail application.

The Malaysian government emphasizes that sending messages with the intention of threatening is a violation based on Article 233 of the 1998 Communications and Multimedia Law, which can be punished with fines of up to 500,000 Malaysian ringgit, as well as imprisonment for up to two years, or both.

The action can also be investigated under Article 503 of the Criminal Code, which can be subject to imprisonment of up to two years, fines, or both.

"The MADANI government (Anwar Ibrahim's government) will not compromise with any party who misuses technology to threaten or deceive the public. Any effort will be made to ensure that criminals are tried for public security," said Fahmi.