Chiew Choon Man
MIRI (Jan 12): Miri MP Chiew Choon Man is urging the public to be cautious of SMS messages containing URL links, requests for personal information, or instructions to contact certain phone numbers.
Chiew, who is PKR Sarawak youth chief, said his office has received several enquiries and complaints from local residents regarding such messages, which are feared to contain elements of fraud.
He stated that starting Sept 1, 2024, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has prohibited content in SMS, including hyperlinks and requests for personal information, to protect users from cybercrime.
“If residents receive suspicious SMS, they should consider the message as high risk and potentially containing elements of fraud,” he said in a statement today.
He urged residents to report such messages to MCMC via the website aduan.mcmc.gov.my by including important information such as the sender’s phone number, a screenshot of the message, and location of receipt.
Chiew said apart from SMS, suspicious messages may also be sent via other applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Google RCS, or Apple iMessage, adding that reports can be made to the platform provider or directly to MCMC.
In a related development, Chiew said the government should introduce stricter laws to tackle online fraud.
“In this context, the steps taken by Singapore, where the police are empowered to freeze bank accounts suspected of being involved in fraud, should be taken as an example,” he added.
Chiew said he would raise the issue in Parliament next month, urging the government to empower enforcement agencies such as the police and MCMC with broader powers to act promptly against online fraud.
He also proposed passing a new law that allows bank accounts of fraud suspects to be frozen immediately to prevent more people from falling victim.
Additionally, he urged the government to intensify awareness campaigns to educate the public about the modus operandi of such fraud.
“We are committed to ensuring that the digital security of Malaysians, including the residents of Miri, continues to be a priority. The public is advised to remain vigilant, and report any suspicious activity to the authorities,” stressed Chiew.

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