By Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Chairman Alliance for a Safe Community
KOTA KINABALU: The Alliance for a Safe Community welcomes the government’s decision to place the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) under full-time, 24-hour police supervision and control.
This is a timely and necessary move as scam cases in Malaysia continue to escalate at an alarming rate, inflicting devastating financial and emotional harm on victims across all segments of society.
The NSRC has played a pivotal role in facilitating rapid responses to scam incidents.
However, placing it directly under the watchful eye of the Royal Malaysia Police will further enhance its operational capacity, streamline coordination among enforcement agencies, and increase public confidence in the system’s ability to act swiftly and decisively.
To make this initiative more effective, we propose the following key steps:
Expand and Strengthen the NSRC Team
Increase manpower with trained scam response officers and digital forensic experts to ensure round-the-clock monitoring, faster response times, and enhanced tracking of illicit transactions.
Develop a Real-Time Inter-Agency Command System
Integrate NSRC operations with Bank Negara Malaysia, telecommunications providers, and financial institutions in real time to immediately freeze fraudulent accounts, trace money trails, and block suspicious phone lines or digital platforms.
Public Awareness and Education Campaigns
The police should launch aggressive, continuous public awareness campaigns, particularly in schools, colleges, and community centres, to educate the public on common scam tactics and preventive measures.
Scam Offender Database
Establish a national database of known scammers and mule account holders accessible by all enforcement agencies and financial institutions. Repeat offenders should face heavier penalties.
Technology and AI-Driven Surveillance
Invest in advanced surveillance tools, AI algorithms, and digital threat-detection systems to identify and neutralize scam operations early, particularly those involving cybercrime syndicates operating from abroad.
Stronger Legal Framework and Enforcement
Amend existing laws to impose harsher punishments on scam syndicate members and money mules, while also holding digital platforms accountable for failing to take down scam-related content or ads.
Enhanced Cross-Border Collaboration
Cooperate closely with INTERPOL and regional partners to trace and dismantle transnational scam networks that exploit jurisdictional gaps.
We commend this proactive step and urge the authorities to treat the scam epidemic with the same seriousness as other national security threats. It is only through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach that we can turn the tide in this relentless war against scammers.
