GEORGE TOWN: As calls to ban tampered vape products such as K-Pod grow louder, experts have warned that an outright ban may backfire, exacerbating the problem rather than solving it. They say addressing the issue requires political will, inter-agency coordination, psychological insight and, above all, compassion. Universiti Sains Malaysia criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy described…
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…
KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry revealed that the majority of criminal cases in Malaysia are linked to drug abuse. Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said the finding was based on an analysis of 1.2 million crime data records compiled by the police using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Saifuddin said three main drug-related offences identified in…
PETALING JAYA: Educational institutions in Malaysia need to build a system where safety protocols, from staff vigilance to student awareness, are embedded into daily routines, says criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy. “University campuses are supposed to be secure sanctuaries for intellectual growth, self-discovery and personal safety. “While universities often claim to have around-the-clock security and…
KUALA LUMPUR: The Madani government has agreed to expand the role of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) to cover all forms of cybercrime, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. He said a nationwide 24-hour response network, coordinated across multiple government agencies, would also be established to enhance cybercrime response capabilities. “The strengthening of…
GEORGE TOWN: Public concern over violent crime continues to grow in the country, a leading criminologist said. However, the country’s homicide rate remains low by global standards. Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy said Malaysia’s rate, currently around 0.7 to 0.9, aligned more closely with nations like Japan, Singapore and those in Scandinavia. According…
GEORGE TOWN: New laws and mechanisms are needed to curb the spread of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated pornography, said a criminalogist. Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy, from Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research , warned that such content posed serious risks to the mental health of victims, especially minors. “The law is playing catch-up while technology…
GEORGE TOWN: A 46-year-old man here lost RM1,316,111 to an online scam recently. The Penang police Commercial Crime Division said it had received a report from the man who is a manager in a medical company. The victim said after he had seen an advertisement on Instagram, he got in touch with a woman, who…
