27/01/2026
Authorities are also seeking forfeiture of 642 properties and bank accounts belonging to MBI founder Tedy Teow Wooi Huat, valued at over RM1.25 billion,said Liew.
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): A total of 23 individuals, including Tan Sri and Datuk Seri titleholders, have been arrested in connection with the MBI Group Ponzi scheme, with RM6.65 billion in assets seized, Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong said.
The arrests follow a series of crackdowns conducted last year on the large, scale, now-defunct scheme under an operation code-named “Op Northern Star”, led by Bukit Aman’s anti-money laundering division.
In addition, authorities filed a notice at the Butterworth High Court on Dec 24, 2025, seeking forfeiture of 642 properties and bank accounts belonging to the children of MBI founder Tedy Teow Wooi Huat under Section 56(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA).
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“[The assets of Teow’s children] are valued at over RM1.25 billion,” Liew said during a Special Chamber session in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.
Liew was responding to Klang Member of Parliament Ganabatirau Veraman, who raised questions about the MBI scheme and the government’s enforcement responsibilities.
MBI, a Penang-based Ponzi scheme founded by Teow, operated from approximately 2012 to 2018. It is considered one of the largest financial frauds in the region, defrauding an estimated two million to 11 million people globally, primarily in China, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Teow has been in custody in China since August 2024, following his extradition from Thailand, and is charged with defrauding about two million Chinese nationals.
On Thursday, Liew said Malaysia is pursuing active mutual legal assistance cooperation with Chinese authorities.
Investigators and deputy public prosecutors are currently in Chongqing, China, from Jan 19 to 23, 2026, to further the investigation and obtain foreign conviction certificates to strengthen Malaysia’s prosecution cases, he noted.
The police have also offered compounds totalling RM339.5 million to involved proxies, of which RM131.5 million has already been paid, as part of a strategy to recover illicit proceeds and ensure those complicit face appropriate penalties.
“The government, through PDRM (the Royal Malaysian Police), is committed to maximising asset forfeiture under Section 56(1) of AMLA, a move critical to ensure seized assets are returned or used in accordance with the law for public benefit,” Liew said.
Liew said the government is strengthening oversight against investment scams through two key safeguards. The National Scam Response Centre, linked to hotline 997, enables authorities to quickly restrict fund flows upon receiving complaints.
Meanwhile, the Bank Negara Malaysia Financial Consumer Alert List and the Securities Commission Malaysia’s daily updated Investor Alert List provide enhanced protection for investors.
The government has also launched the National Financial Literacy Strategy 2026-2030 (NS2.0). The fourth strategic focus of NS2.0 aims to equip citizens with risk-management skills in the digital economy, helping them avoid falling prey to pyramid schemes and other fraudulent scams, Liew added.刘振东表示,当局正在寻求没收MBI创始人张伟发名下的642处房产和银行账户,价值超过12.5亿令吉。
吉隆坡(1月22日讯):财政部副部长刘振东表示,包括丹斯里和拿督斯里在内的23人因涉嫌参与MBI集团庞氏骗局而被捕,警方查获资产达66.5亿令吉。
此次逮捕行动是去年一系列打击该大型庞氏骗局行动的一部分,该行动代号为“北方之星行动”,由武吉阿曼警察总部反洗钱部门牵头。
此外,当局于2025年12月24日向北海高等法院提交通知,要求根据2001年《反洗钱、反恐怖主义融资和非法活动收益法》(AMLA)第56(1)条,没收MBI创始人张伟发子女名下的642处房产和银行账户。
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“(张伟发子女的资产)价值超过12.5亿令吉,”刘先生周三在下议院特别会议上表示。
刘先生是在回应巴生国会议员加纳巴提劳·维拉曼(Ganabatirau Veraman)的质询时做出上述表态的。维拉曼议员提出了关于MBI骗局以及政府执法责任的问题。
MBI是一个总部位于槟城的庞氏骗局,由张永昌(Teow)创立,运作时间约为2012年至2018年。该骗局被认为是该地区最大的金融诈骗案之一,据估计在全球范围内诈骗了200万至1100万人,主要受害者集中在中国、马来西亚和泰国。
张永昌自2024年8月被从泰国引渡回国后一直被关押在中国,他被控诈骗约200万中国公民。
刘先生周四表示,马来西亚正在积极寻求与中国当局开展司法互助合作。
他指出,调查人员和副检察官目前正在中国重庆,于2026年1月19日至23日期间开展进一步调查,并获取外国定罪证明,以加强马来西亚的起诉。
警方已向涉案代理人开出总额达3.395亿令吉的罚款,其中1.315亿令吉已支付。此举旨在追回非法所得,并确保所有涉案人员受到应有的惩罚。
刘先生表示:“政府通过马来西亚皇家警察(PDRM)致力于最大限度地利用《反洗钱法》第56(1)条没收资产,此举至关重要,能够确保被扣押的资产得到返还或依法用于公共利益。”
刘先生指出,政府正通过两项关键保障措施加强对投资诈骗的监管。国家诈骗应对中心与997热线相连,使当局能够在接到投诉后迅速限制资金流动。
同时,马来西亚国家银行的金融消费者警示名单和马来西亚证券委员会每日更新的投资者警示名单为投资者提供了更完善的保护。
政府还启动了《2026-2030年国家金融素养战略》(NS2.0)。刘先生补充说,NS2.0的第四个战略重点旨在使公民具备数字经济中的风险管理技能,帮助他们避免成为传销和其他欺诈骗局的受害者。
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 27): The government has been urged to fast-track prosecutions against all operators of the MBI Ponzi scheme, including proxies and uplines, and to maximise asset forfeiture to ensure compensation for both domestic and international victims.