SHAH ALAM, July 2 — The authorities will not hesitate to take action if virtual private networks (VPN) are used to facilitate criminal activities, including child sexual exploitation, online scams, or illegal gambling.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said that while VPNs and similar tools are not illegal in themselves, action can be taken when they are linked to unlawful conduct.
“From a legal perspective, the use of such technology is not automatically an offence.
“However, if it is used to facilitate criminal acts such as child sexual exploitation, fraud, online gambling, or the spread of harmful content, action will be taken under existing laws,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Shamsul was responding to Tenom MP Riduan Rubin’s supplementary query on cybercrime enforcement and age verification mechanisms.
He clarified that enforcement agencies, including the police, rely on public complaints and investigations to determine whether VPN or identity masking tools are being misused.
“Children and teenagers are increasingly exposed to online threats, including sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, digital scams, and recruitment into criminal activities via social media platforms,” Shamsul said.
The deputy minister noted that reported cases of child sexual offences had increased significantly to 146 cases in 2025, which more than doubled from 69 cases in 2017.
He said the government’s proposed policy requiring individuals aged 16 and above to undergo certain digital registrations is part of broader efforts to reduce children’s exposure to online risks that are aligned with national cybersecurity frameworks.
Commenting on the enforcement challenges involving foreign-based platforms, Shamsul said Malaysia will continue to strengthen cooperation with international agencies and pursue regulatory action where necessary, including compliance orders and restrictions.
Cyber forensics capacity and inter-agency cooperation are being enhanced to keep pace with evolving digital threats.
“Malaysia is also stepping up digital literacy programmes targeting youth and parents, with nearly 6,000 crime prevention activities conducted nationwide between January and May this year.
“The preparedness will continue to be strengthened in terms of technology, expertise and inter-agency integration to ensure digital evidence is handled more effectively, systematically, and in accordance with the law.
“These efforts require a comprehensive approach involving effective age verification mechanisms; strong enforcement and a robust national cybersecurity ecosystem to balance child protection and national cybersecurity needs,” he said.
