PM Urges Stronger Public Awareness to Combat Rising Online Scams
Government reinforces legal measures and operational coordination through NSRC
CYBERJAYA, March 3 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for intensified public awareness campaigns to shield Malaysians from falling victim to increasingly sophisticated online scams.
The message was delivered during the launch of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) operations here today. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Prime Minister emphasised that enforcement alone is insufficient without stronger public education and behavioural change among citizens.
“The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of strengthening awareness programmes so that the public does not become easy targets. In many cases, victims are driven by greed or tempted by offers that promise unrealistically high returns,” Saifuddin told reporters after the event.
He explained that the government’s approach now combines tighter inter-agency coordination with proactive prevention strategies aimed at improving financial literacy and digital vigilance.
The NSRC serves as a centralised response hub designed to act swiftly when scam reports are lodged, including freezing suspicious transactions and tracing fund flows linked to fraudulent activities.
Saifuddin also pointed to legislative reforms introduced to close legal loopholes frequently exploited by scam syndicates. Amendments to Section 424 of the Penal Code, effective since October 2024, now allow authorities to take action against individuals who knowingly permit their bank accounts to be used as financial conduits for fraudulent schemes.
“Previously, account holders who allowed their accounts to be misused were difficult to prosecute. With the revised provision, knowingly facilitating such activity constitutes an offence under the law,” he said.
The amendment is widely seen as targeting the use of so-called “mule accounts,” which have been instrumental in enabling scam syndicates to transfer illicit funds.
During the ceremony, Anwar also witnessed the formal handover of NSRC responsibilities from National Financial Crime Prevention Centre (NFCC) Director-General Datuk Seri Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil to Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail.
Authorities believe that combining stronger public awareness, enhanced operational coordination and tougher legal enforcement will significantly reduce financial losses caused by online scams, which have surged in recent years.
The government’s renewed push signals a broader strategy aimed at protecting consumers in an increasingly digital financial landscape.
-wilayah.com.my
