Mohamad, also known as Tok Mat, said that of the total number, 765 were Chinese, 34 Malays, 33 Indians, and five others from different ethnic groups.

China recorded the highest number of detained Malaysians with 545 individuals, including 505 men.

This was followed by Singapore (162 detainees; 148 men and 14 women). Other countries included Japan (34), South Korea (22), India (20), Indonesia (11) and Thailand (10).

The minister also said that “thousands more” Malaysians were currently being held overseas for various criminal activities, but did not give specific figures.

“This situation poses a problem for us as it affects our efforts to build and uplift Malaysia’s image internationally. Yet, we continue to see large numbers of our citizens being detained abroad for offences that tarnish the nation’s reputation.

“We advise all Malaysians travelling or working abroad to remain cautious and aware of the laws of the countries they visit,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

He was replying to Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang) who asked for the number of Malaysians detained or convicted overseas for online scam offences, with a breakdown by race, gender and country.

In a supplementary question, Wong asked how Malaysian embassies provided consular and humanitarian support for detained citizens, and whether there was a dedicated budget to ensure their rights and welfare, even if they were linked to criminal cases.

Mohamad said consular assistance for Malaysians detained abroad was provided through the country’s embassies and consulates.

“When our embassy or consulate is notified by a foreign government that a Malaysian has been detained, our officers will visit the detainee to assess their condition and needs,” he said.

He said the government did not provide them with funding for lawyers, as legal representation was the responsibility of their families.