KUALA LUMPUR: The National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) will soon be reinforced with the inclusion of two more government agencies - the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and the Securities Commission (SC) - as part of efforts to strengthen the country's scam response mechanism, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister said the Domestic Trade Ministry’s involvement was crucial, especially through its oversight of the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), while the SC would play a key role in addressing capital market-related fraud.
“At present, there are four agencies involved, but in principle, NSRC is ready to receive two more agencies, which are the ministry and the SC.
"These are important elements to further enhance the centre’s role.
“The inclusion of these two new agencies will add value to the existing structure and help the NSRC function more effectively,” he told reporters after visiting the NSRC headquarters on Thursday (July 24).
Saifuddin said that while NSRC will be led by the police, the participation of other key stakeholders remains unchanged.
"To cope with the growing number of reports averaging 500 calls per day, the government is ramping up the centre’s operational capacity, including manpower and inter-agency cooperation.
"The NSRC will receive 139 new personnel.
"In the meantime, we are making internal arrangements. 40 personnel from the police's Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) have been assigned to support the current operations,” he said.
Currently, the NSRC still consists of personnel from the police, Bank Negara, calling agents appointed by Bank Negara and bank officers.
"The revamped NSRC will get 139 permanent personnel, which was approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last month," he said.
Previously Saifuddin announced that the police, specifically the CCID, had officially taken the lead in terms of operation for the NSRC.
He had said previously the NSRC did not have any lead agency, despite consisting of the police, Bank Negara, the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC).
He also said the operations of the NSRC will be moved to Cyberjaya by early September, where all the agencies involved could be placed under one roof.
