Special Branch to brief Saifuddin on alleged S. Korean cult this week


PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail will be briefed by Bukit Aman this week on the purported existence of a cult from South Korea believed to be operating in the country.

The briefing will be conducted by the Special Branch Social Extremism Division (E2), he added.

"I must be careful and cautious on matters like this. I do not want to rely on multiple sources," he told reporters after delivering his New Year ministerial address here on Thursday (Jan 8).

Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin had earlier claimed that a deviant cult from South Korea was active in Malaysia.

On another matter, Saifuddin Nasution said that police have been told to pay special attention to rising scam cases in the country.

ALSO READ: Home Ministry still collecting information on alleged South Korean cult, says Saifuddin 

"The trend of cheating is increasing. I was told that the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) receives around 500 calls daily, and half are genuine cases," he said.

Saifuddin Nasution noted that the police will be further empowered to fight scams with the upcoming launch of NSRC's new headquarters.

"What was decided last year was that the police are to be the main lead of the NSRC.

"The new NSRC headquarters will be based in Cyberjaya, and we will launch it in the next few weeks," he said.

ALSO READ: Online scams up by 43% from 2020 to 2024, says Home Minister 

He also said recent amendments have made it easier for victims to file police reports on scams.

Previously, the NSRC hotline at 997 was mainly an emergency response number, with victims having to go to a police station and lodge a formal report within 24 hours for follow-up action.

As of September, complaints to the NSRC hotline are considered official police reports.

 

 

 

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