KUALA LUMPUR: Placing the police as the lead agency for the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) is a timely and necessary move, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said this step is vital as scam cases in Malaysia continue to rise at an alarming rate, causing significant financial and emotional harm to victims across society.

“The NSRC has played a crucial role in facilitating rapid responses to scam incidents.

“However, placing it directly under the police will enhance its operational capacity, streamline coordination among enforcement agencies, and increase public confidence in the system’s ability to act swiftly and decisively,” he said when contacted on Thursday (July 17).

He commented on Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s announcement that the police will now lead the NSRC.

The NSRC also involves Bank Negara Malaysia, the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC).

Lee urged the government to strengthen the NSRC by increasing its manpower with trained scam response officers and digital forensic experts to ensure round-the-clock monitoring, faster response times, and enhanced tracking of illicit transactions.

“NSRC’s operations should also be integrated with Bank Negara, telecommunications providers, and financial institutions in real time to freeze fraudulent accounts, trace money trails, and block suspicious phone lines or digital platforms,” he added.

He also called for the establishment of a national database of known scammers and mule account holders, accessible to all enforcement agencies and financial institutions.

“Investing in advanced surveillance tools, AI algorithms, and digital threat detection systems is needed to identify and neutralise scam operations early, especially those involving cybercrime syndicates operating from abroad.

“Existing laws should also be amended to impose harsher punishments on scam syndicate members and money mules, while holding digital platforms accountable for not removing scam-related content or ads,” he said.

Lee said the police should launch aggressive, continuous public awareness campaigns, particularly in schools, colleges, and community centres, to educate the public on common scam tactics and preventive measures.

“We commend this proactive step and urge the authorities to treat the scam epidemic with the same seriousness as other national security threats.

“It is only through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach that we can turn the tide in this relentless war against scammers,” he added.

This article first appeared on The Star.