25/07/2025

FRIDAY | JULY 25, 2025

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Scam response centre gets major upgrade to fight menace

Whereabouts of Jho Low still

unconfirmed: Minister KUALA LUMPUR: There is no credible evidence confirming the whereabouts of fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, who is alleged to be residing in the upscale Green Hills neighbourhood in Shanghai using a fake passport, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution. He said the police continue to work with international enforcement agencies to locate the key figure linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. “We have not found any solid evidence to confirm the claims about his location or the use of any particular passport.” His comments follow a recent report by investigative outlet Brazen which alleged that Low is living in China under the alias “Constantinos Achilles Veis” and is using a forged Australian passport. On July 19, investigative journalists Bradley Hope and Tom Wright, known for their early reporting on the 1MDB scandal, claimed that Low is residing in a mansion in Green Hills, based on newly obtained documents and multiple sources. The two, who were former Wall Street Journal reporters, had co-authored Billion Dollar Whale , a bestselling exposé chronicling Low’s alleged role in the scandal. They claimed that Low is acting as a covert strategist for the Chinese government, helping sanctioned Chinese companies navigate international restrictions. – By Qirana Nabilla Mohd Rashidi ‘Rural schools not marginalised’ KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has assured that rural schools are not being left behind in the implementation of the national education digitalisation policy, said its deputy minister Wong Kah Woh. He said claims of marginalisation were inaccurate, noting that of the 110 schools involved in the hybrid pilot project, 41 were rural. “This demonstrates the ministry’s commitment to a fair and inclusive approach. “It clearly shows that in every initiative or project, the ministry ensures no school is marginalised in the digital transformation of education. “The ministry will also implement a pilot project for the Artificial Intelligence powered classroom involving 11 schools, including one in Sarawak, the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Lanang,” he said during a question-and-answer in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. – Bernama

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Facility to move to Cyberjaya with expanded staff, better tech and 24/7 multilingual support as cases surge

raised

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RM10,000. “In the past, only an inspector could freeze an account under the Criminal Procedure Code, but now a sergeant has that authority. “We’ve simplified the process,” he added. Saifudin highlighted that the centre’s mechanisms will also be improved, including the ability to handle calls in four major languages – Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil – to better serve the public. He said complaints received by NSRC fall into two categories: general inquiries and real scam cases, the latter involving financial fraud, such as online scams, phishing or malware. “The pattern of victims includes pensioners who have lost their retirement savings and working professionals. These are real financial crimes affecting everyday Malaysians. “The centre operates 24/7 to respond to public complaints but the convention enables 24/7 cooperation at the international level, facilitating intelligence exchange when cross-border incidents occur.” He also announced that Malaysia is set to sign the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime in Vietnam at the end of October, a move that will strengthen real-time information sharing between countries. Saifuddin added that the upcoming Asean Ministerial Meeting on security in September will list online scams as one of its 10 key agenda items, with emphasis on capacity building, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations among member states. “We will also intensify awareness campaigns as cybercrime is becoming increasingly sophisticated. “Enforcement, prevention and legislative updates must go hand in hand to ensure our efforts to combat scams and fraudulent activities are truly effective.” They are the cornerstone of justice, social harmony and shared prosperity. In Malaysia, these rights are firmly grounded in the Federal Constitution, specifically in Part Two, which outlines basic liberties from Articles 5 to 13.” Azalina said the government views the safeguarding of these rights as a fundamental obligation. “We believe that strengthening human rights is essential to building a peaceful, inclusive and progressive society.” She also stressed that the tabling and debate of Suhakam’s annual report was not merely procedural, but a vital component of Malaysia’s democratic accountability.

KUALA LUMPUR: With scam related losses climbing to RM1.5 billion and the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) fielding up to 500 calls a day, the government is ramping it up with a major operational upgrade. In September, the NSRC will relocate to a larger, purpose-built facility in Cyberjaya. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said the move will allow the centre to function more effectively with increased staffing and better support mechanisms. “Alongside enforcement improvements and legislative amendments, public awareness programmes will be intensified to address the increasingly complex nature of scams,” he said during a press conference yesterday. Saifuddin said the new facility

temporary measure.” He added as of now, 18 officers are handling calls simultaneously, and this number will be increased in stages to meet growing demand. “The move will also involve the addition of 139 officers and greater inter-agency collaboration. “At present, the centre operates with four core agencies but two more – the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and the Securities Commission Malaysia – will soon come on board.“ Saifuddin said the government amended several laws last year, including introducing Sections 424A and 424B in the Penal Code to increase penalties – with fines

offers a more spacious, accurate and conducive working environment which will allow the centre to centralise its key operations. He added that the premises will be equipped with all necessary components, including a physical complaints counter. “Currently, NSRC operations are supported by the police and other partner agencies. “In the initial phase, 40 personnel from the Commercial Crime Investigation Department will be assigned to the centre. “We are aware of the staffing shortage within the commercial crime unit, but we are making use of internal resources as a

The move to Cyberjaya will see an increase in staffing and operational capacity, allowing the NSRC to function more effectively, said Saifuddin (at rostrum). – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

Suhakam report exposes overcrowding, abuse and deaths in prisons

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

untreated medical conditions or showed signs of physical abuse, he said. Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said tabled the Suhakam report and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the principles of human rights and constitutional freedoms. She said this commitment was in line with the Malaysia Madani vision, which places human dignity and societal well-being at the heart of national governance. “Human rights remain a key national and international concern.

petition alleging they were beaten with PVC pipes for minor infractions. Even more disturbing, he said, were claims that instruments of torture had been deliberately hidden during visits by Suhakam. “The treatment of detainees, especially those on remand who have not been convicted, is deeply troubling. They are stripped naked, denied bathing and fed spoiled food. Complaints are met with violence. This is not justice — it is cruelty.” Ahmad Marzuk also highlighted the rising number of custodial deaths, revealing that 77 were recorded in 2023, including 11 within the prison system. Many of those who died had

allegations of torture and systemic neglect that have cost lives. “These are not mere statistics. These are lives, human faces we have forgotten,” he said, calling for urgent reform and accountability. According to the report, 42 prisons built to house 65,000 inmates are holding over 72,000 people. As of November last year, prison population had surged to 87,419 – far exceeding the system’s intended capacity of 65,000. “This is not just a logistical burden. This is a crisis of human dignity,” said Ahmad Marzuk. He pointed to troubling reports from a prison in the northern region, where 125 inmates had signed a

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s prisons are in a grip of “silent humanitarian crisis,” with overcrowding, inhumane treatment and rising deaths in custody, painting a grim picture of the country’s justice system, former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Ahmad Marzuk Shaary told Parliament yesterday. Citing the 2023 Suhakam Annual Report which was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, Ahmad Marzuk described the findings as “a dark side of the justice system”, revealing prisons bursting beyond capacity, and