Scammers using AI to fake my voice and image, says Guan Eng
Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng (right) and Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng showing the fake video recording on their phones.
GEORGE TOWN : Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng has warned the public about a fake video circulating online that uses artificial intelligence to mimic his voice and image in an apparent investment scam.
Lim, who is also the Air Putih assemblyman, said the video falsely shows him endorsing an investment scheme.
He said the video is fake and generated using AI.
'I want to be absolutely clear, I have never asked anyone to invest in anything. I'm not in business; I'm in politics,' he said at an event in Air Putih today.
The manipulated video is believed to be based on an interview Lim gave over a decade ago. The original recording was in English, but the fake version is in Mandarin.
'That alone is a red flag,' Lim said, noting that the other speaker in the video, Penang Institute executive director Ooi Kee Beng, does not speak Mandarin.
'They took an old clip, altered it to look new, and changed the language.'
Lim said the matter had been reported to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
He urged the public not to believe unsolicited investment messages or videos circulating on platforms like WhatsApp.
Lim said this case highlights the urgent need for public education on AI-generated deepfakes and online scams.
He said scammers are intentionally using trusted public figures to deceive victims as this is at least the fifth time digitally altered videos of him have been produced.
'The early attempts were clearly fake, but this one is more convincing. It's dangerous, especially for the elderly or those who trust me as a public figure,' he said.
'They (scammers) exploit public trust. That's why I need to speak up, to stop people from falling for these scams.
'Always verify with official sources. Refer to my verified statements. I will never ask anyone to invest in anything.'
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