KUALA LUMPUR — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has directed authorities to investigate after several lawmakers, including prominent cabinet members, received extortion emails featuring fabricated videos generated with artificial intelligence (AI).
Fahmi confirmed today that he had instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to work closely with police to trace the culprits behind the blackmail campaign, which demanded US$100,000 (RM420,000) in exchange for not releasing the fake clips.
“The government takes this incident seriously,” Fahmi said in a statement, adding that the threatening emails were sent from the same address, used identical wording and screenshots, and were believed to have originated via Google’s Gmail service.
Recipients of the emails include Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, Subang MP Wong Chen, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli, and several state legislators. Fahmi himself said he had also been targeted.
Under Malaysian law, issuing threats through digital communications carries penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment, fines of up to RM500,000, or both. The case could also be investigated as criminal intimidation under the Penal Code.
Rafizi revealed earlier that he received an email claiming to possess a compromising video allegedly featuring him with another man. The message included a blurry screenshot, a QR code for payment and a demand for US$100,000.
He dismissed the attempt as crude, saying his face had been digitally inserted into the footage, and suggested the true aim might be to hack his devices rather than extort money.
Rafizi has previously reported being targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks, including mercenary spyware.
Wong Chen also said he was blackmailed with a near-identical email, which his office quickly reported to police.
He described the attempt as “lazy and unprofessional”, noting that the same background image was used with only the faces swapped.
“This attack has made me question the safety of myself and my family,” Wong Chen said. “I’ve been a Member of Parliament for 13 years, and I’ve never faced anything like this before.”
Both Rafizi and Wong Chen believe the coordinated nature of the blackmail attempts suggests a wider effort to intimidate outspoken politicians.
The incident has raised concerns about the misuse of generative AI to spread disinformation and intimidate elected officials.
“The Madani government will not compromise with any party that misuses technology to threaten or deceive the public,” Fahmi said, pledging to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. — September 14, 2025