Malaysia is not restarting an e-wallet subsidy scheme that concluded in February 2024, the country’s finance ministry told AFP. It said graphics circulating on social media — which claimed a scheme offering 1,000 ringgit was open to applicants from August to September 2024 — were a scam. Malaysia’s national public broadcaster and an e-wallet service provider whose logos appear on some of the false infographics also both said they did not produce them.
“Malaysian Ministry of Finance eMadani/Touch ‘n Go ewallet 2024 assistance has been opened. Please check & claim,” read a Malay-language Facebook post shared on August 10, 2024.
The accompanying infographic stated that registration for the “eMadani” scheme was open from August 1 until September 30 and eligible applicants would receive e-wallet credit worth 1,000 ringgit ($228).
The logo of Malaysia’s national public broadcaster, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), can be seen at the bottom of the image (archived link).
The post also included a link that led to a website where applicants are invited to redeem their e-wallet credit by entering their full name and phone number.
The same infographic was shared alongside similar claims elsewhere on Facebook here, here and here.
Other versions of the infographic appeared to be made by e-wallet service provider Touch ‘N Go Digital and Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance (archived link). The graphics were shared on Facebook here, here, here, here, here and here.
While the Malaysian government allocated 1 billion ringgit to an e-wallet subsidy scheme called eMadani in November 2023, the plan ended in February 2024 and the Ministry of Finance has not announced a new round (archived links here and here).
‘Fake’ graphics
Keyword searches on Google led to a Facebook post on the verified page of the Ministry of Finance on August 15, 2024 that warned the public not to be deceived by the “fake” graphics (archived link).
“Be careful and don’t be fooled by such news,” read the Malay-language post.
A reverse image search for the false graphic led to the original posted on the verified Facebook page of RTM on December 3, 2023 (archived link).
Contrary to what is claimed on the false graphic, the RTM infographic states the subsidy was open for registration from December 4, 2023 until February 20, 2024 and worth 100 ringgit.
The graphic circulating in August 2024 was “fake”, a representative from broadcaster RTM told AFP on August 20.
Below is a screenshot comparison between the false graphic (left) and the RTM graphic (right):
A further reverse image search of the other false infographics circulating online led to their originals published on the verified Facebook pages of Touch ‘n Go and the Ministry of Finance on November 29 and November 30, 2023 (archived link here and here).
These infographics also state the subsidy scheme would open on December 4, 2023.
Below are screenshot comparisons between the false graphics (left) and the original Touch ‘n Go and the Ministry of Finance infographics (right):
Touch ‘n Go told AFP it did not produce the graphics circulating online in August 2024.
“The eMadani programme was launched in November last year. The one that said August to October 2024 is fake news,” a spokesperson from the e-wallet company said on August 22.
A spokesperson for the finance ministry told AFP the “registration” sites were a scam and not affiliated with the government.
“They are imposter accounts because the eMadani scheme has ended. There is no eMadani scheme running now,” the spokesperson said on August 20.
The spokesperson added the ministry did not ask for personal details for the eMadani scheme and applicants signed-up through the participating e-wallet providers.
Malaysian police had previously warned of scams targeting people registering for the eMadani subsidy scheme when it was first announced in December 2023, state news agency Bernama reported (archived link).
AFP has debunked similar scam posts that ask for users’ personal information, such as those impersonating government aid schemes, here and here.
David Turner is a globe-trotting journalist who brings a global perspective to our readers. With a commitment to shedding light on international events, he explores complex geopolitical issues, offering a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
