‘Ensure CCID is well equipped to battle cybercrimes’

KUALA LUMPUR: More efforts should be made to properly equip the police force to successfully tackle the threat of cybercrimes, especially scams, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

While lauding the government’s plan to beef up the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and the Penal Code, the Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said the police, especially the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), should also be supplied with sufficient assets and equipment.

“I fully support the call to beef up the relevant laws to battle cybercrimes, as the number of scam victims in the country is increasing daily.

“Fine-tuning both laws could properly address and curb cybercrimes in line with technological advancement and the complexity of such crimes.

“On top of that, I feel that the CCID should also be beefed up and be more well-equipped with sufficient resources and personnel.

“The number of personnel should be increased as, given its current strength, I don’t think the CCID will be able to deal with such crimes effectively,” he said when contacted.

Lee also called for CCID personnel to be given more training so that they would have the necessary expertise to effectively combat online scams.

“Scams have become the number one public enemy.

“Given the frequent number of scam cases happening, the public must be more vigilant.

“Digital literacy among Malaysians, especially senior citizens, is a must so that they do not become easy prey for scammers,” he said.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced on Friday (June 21) that the government would fine-tune amendments to the CPC and Penal Code to address cybercrimes.

Bukit Aman CCID director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf had said among the proposed changes to the Penal Code was clear and stricter action against mule account holders.

“Especially on the mule accounts. The law now might not be sufficient and we have to charge most under the Minor Offences Act and this has many interpretations and thoughts.

“There are those who are reluctant to bring the case forward due to not having enough ‘ingredients’.

“This is also the case with the use of ATM cards.

“We heard of people holding stacks of ATM cards and we hope with these changes people will not easily give their ATM cards or open bank accounts on behalf of others, as they could be liable as well,” he said.