KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 5): A total of 79,559 telephone fraud cases were reported throughout the country involving losses worth RM2.51 billion from 2018 to Sept 15 this year, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin. 

In a parliamentary written reply to Bukit Mertajam Member of Parliament Sim Chee Keong, he noted that the 21- to 40-year-old age group was among the largest victims of such crimes.

“Based on statistics, the Malays recorded the largest number of victims in each category of cases of online fraud crimes, with 42,755 victims.

“[This was] followed by the Chinese with 21,225 victims. Other races totalled 8,540, followed by Indian victims totalling 7,039,” the minister said.

Sim had asked the home minister to state how many cases of telephone fraud had caused victims' savings to be withdrawn without permission, according to the year, state, gender, race, age and bank involved, and the amount of each loss from 2018 until now.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry from last year until September this year awarded procurement tenders totalling RM2.49 billion.  

Hamzah, who was replying to Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, explained that his ministry had approved a total of 121 details under the development allocation, comprising 94 details for 2021, and 27 details for 2022.

Based on the 121 project details, 132 main procurements were implemented in 2021, while 29 procurements have been carried out so far in 2022.

“Accordingly, a total of 31 out of 132 procurement tenders were finalised and awarded in 2021, with a total value of RM2 billion.

“In 2022, a total of five procurement tenders have been finalised and awarded [so far], with a total value of RM491.1 million,” added Hamzah.

Syed Ibrahim had asked the home minister to state the details of the number of projects, tenders and procurement contracts awarded to companies under the ministry in 2021 and year-to-date.

For more Parliament stories, click here.