Malaysia and Pakistan are in talks to coordinate follow-up action over the detention of 130 Malaysians suspected of involvement in online scams in Pakistan, Malaysia's Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said on Monday 2 November. He said discussions are being held between the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department and Pakistani authorities, following confirmation of the case by his Pakistani counterpart about two weeks ago.

What the minister said

Speaking in Alor Setar, Mr Saifuddin said he had received a phone call from Pakistan's interior minister about two weeks earlier informing him that a number of Malaysians suspected of involvement in online scams had been detained. He said he had asked the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director to coordinate with Pakistan.

The Rawalpindi case

Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail, confirmed on 31 October that 130 Malaysians had been detained by Pakistani authorities in Rawalpindi over their alleged involvement in a cybercrime syndicate. He said some of those detained have valid visas while others have overstayed, and an investigative team may be sent to Pakistan. Pakistani media reported that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency raided premises at KASA Tower in Bahria Town Phase VIII, where suspects allegedly posed as bank staff and police to pressure victims into transferring money, later converted into cryptocurrency.

A parallel Malaysian case

In the same period, Kedah police arrested 33 Pakistanis at Kulim Hi-Tech Park, along with several Indians, and Mr Saifuddin said those detained in that operation have since been charged in court. No court outcome for the 130 has been reported, and Malaysian police have not yet obtained their full profiles.

Sources: Media Selangor, 2 November 2026; Business Today / Royal Malaysia Police statement, 31 October 2026.