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South China Morning Post

The Lens: Japan's battle against elder scams focuses on ATM limits

If you are interested in being a regular contributor for The Lens, please apply by clicking this link. Thoughts from last week Charis Chan, 16, Malvern College Hong Kong Charis Chan attends Malvern College Hong Kong. Photo: Handout Police in Japan have been considering limiting how much cash elderly citizens can withdraw from ATMs to combat scams. While I believe this strategy could reduce fraud against the elderly, it would only be effective to a certain extent. This is because elderly people can still withdraw large amounts of money if they take out the maximum limit from ATMs multiple times. To address this issue, the Japanese government should focus on the root cause by educating elderly citizens about common scams and how to remain vigilant. Alternatives could include informational programmes at senior centres and advertisements highlighting scams. One potential consequence of restricting cash withdrawals is that the elderly may stop depositing money into their accounts or withdrawing cash altogether due to inconvenience. This could lead to an increased risk of mismanaging or losing their money. They could also simply carry around cash instead of depositing it into their accounts, which could be dangerous. Furthermore, since elderly individuals constitute a significant portion of Japan's population, their reduced use of banking services may impact the financial institutions themselves. Reducing cash deposits or withdrawals could create economic issues. Additionally, elderly people might resort to borrowing money from family members, which could escalate existing familial conflicts or create tension among relatives. Therefore, alternative solutions, such as educational programmes, are more appropriate than restricting cash withdrawal limits. In conclusion, since not only the elderly fall prey to scam calls, the Japanese government should refrain from limiting cash withdrawals. Instead, it should consider other measures, such as public service advertisements, to address this issue effectively. Read up on this issue in last week's The Lens Read and observe Malaysia's childhood obesity crisis is deepening as sugar-laden diets and inactivity soar. Photo: AFP Malaysia's sugar addiction is fuelling a childhood obesity epidemic. A new health ministry report shows that a third of children are overweight, blaming it on a lack of exercise and high-sugar diets, short of fruits and vegetables. The food-obsessed nation has long been one of Asia's most obese countries, with half of its adults overweight and one in five people living with diabetes, according to official statistics. These preventable lifestyle diseases are draining Malaysia's healthcare system of billions of ringgit each year at a time when hospitals are overcrowded and doctors are overworked. The 2024 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), published by the Institute for Public Health, revealed that one in three people aged 5 to 19 were overweight. Only two in five are living a physically active lifestyle. 'The report found that 63.1 per cent of adolescents and 40 per cent of adults are consuming more sugar than suggested,' Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said. 'Half of this excess sugar comes from sweetened beverages.' Malaysia's fondness for sugary drinks has come under scrutiny recently. Health advocates are criticising influencers for promoting overly sweet drink recipes. This is despite the government imposing a sugar tax in 2019. The nationwide survey polled 5,400 randomly selected households. The survey also found that only a small proportion of adolescents consumed the recommended daily intake of two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables. 'This is also a question of affordability,' Dzulkefly said. The minister and the report pointed to Malaysia's culture of heavy late-night meals as a major contributor to the problem. Late-night dining has become a hallmark of Malaysian food culture, with 24-hour restaurants offering cheap, calorie-heavy meals. Acknowledging the social dimensions of obesity, Dzulkefly said a solution would require radical thinking. Staff writers Research and respond What methods is the Malaysian government currently using to lower obesity rates? Are they effective? Why or why not? What are some better solutions to address this issue? What could be done on a national level, and how could schools promote healthy eating?