KUALA LUMPUR: The move to set up the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) as announced in the 2023 Budget would help address growing concerns on scam related criminal activities nationwide.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the centre was a joint initiative involving Bank Negara Malaysia, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC). This would further enhance police work in fighting scam related crimes at a higher level.
The centre is essential now, as there has been an increase in the number of scammers and scam related crimes, resulting in the public losing vast sums of money.
"It is timely. I strongly believe that the joint initiative will have a positive impact on this battle against various scams and methods used by scammers and criminals," he said.
The NSRC is part of the RM18.3 billion allocated to the Home Ministry under the 2023 Budget tabled yesterday.
Apart from that, the allocation also includes RM431 million allocation for security asset purchases and maintenance and RM42 million for housing improvement plans at existing police quarters for civil servants.
Acryl Sani thanked the government for the allocations and assured that it would help the police further strengthen public order and national security in the country.
"The announcement of setting up 25 new border control posts along the Malaysian borders, namely in Serikin, Sarawak and Lahad Datu, Sabah by the General Operations Force (PGA), the Immigration Department, the Sabah East Coast Special Security Control (ESSCOM), the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) would also help keep intruders out and our borders safer," he said in a statement.
Acryl Sani also thanked the government for including retirees and policemen's welfare and wellbeing through various initiatives announced in the budget.
"We also welcome Prasarana Malaysia's move to give 21,000 ex-servicemen from the force and armed forces a 50 per cent discount on all public transportations in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pahang and Penang," he added.
Meanwhile, MMEA's director-general Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the government's decision to allocate RM1.3 billion for it in the budget is a move in line with the agency's Malaysian Maritime 2040 strategic plan.
"This is a 30 per cent increase from the last budget and so far, the biggest ever the agency received," he said.
He said the allocation would enhance various aspects within MMEA including management expenditure, human resources, office maintenance, jetty and lock-ups, maritime aerial stations, aircraft maintenance, zone and state operations centres, Marine Surveillance System radar control centres and others.
"We expect a total of RM485 million to be used for the maintenance of 70 vessels and 193 boats, some of which are still under maintenance and need repairs," he said, thanking the government for considering the agency's needs in the 2023 Budget.