KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore's proposed anti-scam law may offer a boost in the fight against scammers, but Malaysia has already amended several laws to provide authorities with an edge.
While commending Singapore’s move to introduce a law that would grant police the power to control the bank accounts of scam victims, Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association chairman Datuk Ahmad Noordin Ismail pointed out that the Malaysian government had already amended the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593) and Penal Code (Act 574), which give the police greater authority to target those involved in mule accounts.
“With the amendments, the authorities can take control of mule accounts and charge account holders who use their accounts for scam transactions or lend their accounts to others for illegal activities,” he explained. “In a way, it is almost similar to what Singapore is doing.”
He was commenting on Singapore's proposed Protection from Scams Bill, introduced in Parliament on Nov 11. If passed, the law would allow the police to issue restriction orders to banks, thereby limiting the banking transactions of individuals’ accounts.
Ahmad Noordin said time would tell whether the recent amendments in Malaysia would prove effective.
“We have to wait a few months, or perhaps a year, to see whether these amendments are effective or not,” he said.
While praising the government’s efforts in amending the laws, Ahmad Noordin stressed that the authorities should ensure the public is aware of the changes.
“If they are not aware, they will continue making the same mistakes,” he warned. “Therefore, the authorities should work on raising awareness about the changes.”
He also mentioned the introduction of the Cyber Security Act, which will aid the authorities in tackling cyber offences.
It was reported that the police are now authorised to block transactions or seize funds suspected to be linked with financial crimes, including mule accounts, as heard in the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 18.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M. Kulasegaran, said that recent amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593) and Penal Code (Act 574), which came into effect on Oct 30, empower the police not only to seize but also to block financial assets from further transactions.
The amendment to the Penal Code (Act 574) includes revisions to Sections 424A, 424B, 424C(1), 424C(2), and 424D.
