Ex-MACC chief urges police to intensify AMLA use against billion-ringgit online scams
KUCHING May 7 — Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad has called on enforcement agencies, particularly the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), to intensify their use of powers under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) in the fight against billion-ringgit online scams.
Responding to a The Star report on May 4 detailing how a business owner was conned out of RM1.8 million in an online investment scam, Dzulkifli warned that such fraud cases are becoming alarmingly frequent and causing heavy losses to Malaysians.
'It is time for enforcement agencies such as the PDRM to utilise their powers under AMLA more efficiently and aggressively.
'The main focus should not just be on arresting the perpetrators, assuming proper investigations are even carried out, but also on tracing the flow of illicit funds and recovering the stolen money,' he said in a statement yesterday.
He emphasised that action must go beyond arrests, especially in cases involving international syndicates and mule accounts, which are notoriously difficult to track.
Dzulkifli also said enforcement bodies should align their investigative strategies with the objectives of AMLA, including freezing, seizure, and forfeiture of criminal proceeds.
'The loss of RM1.8 million is just one of many similar cases we continue to see. The emphasis now must be on asset recovery, which is returning what's been stolen to the victims.'
Dzulkifli, who now heads Amlac Academy, a training institution offering a Professional Diploma in Corporate Anti-Corruption Management, continues to play an active role in raising awareness on financial crimes.
Through the academy, he advocates for professional upskilling and a deeper understanding of anti-corruption measures to improve corporate governance and public integrity.
He concluded that stronger enforcement and greater public education must go hand in hand if Malaysia is to seriously curb the scourge of online financial fraud. — The Borneo Post
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