KUALA LUMPUR: While Singapore is proposing anti-scam law may be a boost in the war on scammers, Malaysia has already amended several laws to give the authorities the necessary edge, says a cyber consumer group.
Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association chairman Datuk Ahmad Noordin Ismail said the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and Penal Code were to give the police more bite.
“With the amendments, the authorities can control the mule accounts and charge account holders who use their accounts for scam transactions or lend them out for illegal activities.
“In a way, it is almost similar to what Singapore is doing,” he said when contacted.
Ahmad Noordin was commenting on Singapore’s proposed Protection from Scams Bill, which was introduced in Parliament on Nov 11.
In what is believed to be a world first, it proposes giving the police powers to control the bank accounts of victims.
If approved, the police will have the authority to order banks to impose restrictions on an individual’s banking transactions.
Ahmad Noordin said time will judge whether the recent amendments will be effective.
“We have to see in a few months or maybe a year,” he said.
The government had also introduced the Cyber Security Act, which will help the authorities to take action against any cyber offences, he added.
While commending the government’s efforts in amending the laws, Ahmad Noordin said the authorities should gauge whether the public is aware of the changes.
On Nov 18, the Dewan Rakyat was told that the police have been authorised to block transactions or seize funds suspected to be linked with financial crimes such as mule accounts.
