KUALA LUMPUR (April 10): The Dewan Negara’s Select Committee on People’s Well-being has recommended that existing laws be improved, or new laws be enacted, so that heavier punishments can be imposed against online fraud perpetrators (scammers).
Its chairman Senator Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad said this involves the Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, the Financial Services Act 2013, the Evidence Act 1950, the Computer Crimes Act 1997, and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1998.
He said that the committee also recommended that the Ministry of Communications and Digital play a role in drafting clear guidelines regarding the responsibilities of companies that collect and process data, as well as the personal information of users.
“The Ministry of Finance also needs to increase the amount of allocations to carry out security audits of ICT (information and communications technology) infrastructure and systems, as well as upgrade the country’s cybersecurity system and government applications,” he said at a press conference at the Parliament building here on Monday (April 10).
Apart from that, he said that the Home Ministry also needs to improve facilities and upgrade the technology used to launch the investigation process, thus increasing the rate of arrests and prosecutions.
“The ministries and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living as well as related agencies should strengthen cooperation and coordination in implementing laws to combat fraudulent criminal activities,” he said.
These recommendations were contained in the People’s Well-being Select Committee’s statement, entitled “Majlis Dewan Negara: Penipuan Dalam Talian: Jenayah Komersial Utama Negara”, as it found that cybercrime cases had shown an upward trend over the past four years, with total losses reaching almost RM500 million each year.
