Expert calls for NSRC overhaul as millions lost to scammers posing as NSRC officials

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WASPADA PANGGILAN DARIPADA NSRC – Laman Web MKN

PETALING JAYA: There is a need to look at the current staffing and ability of the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), which is unable to handle the scams that are happening, says cybersecurity law expert Derek John Fernandez.

Although there is presently a hotline for scammed victims to report to NSRC, the staff members are not trained enough and the hotline is not active all the time, the lawyer pointed out.

“For now, there is only a handful of borrowed civil staff manning NSRC’s 997 hotline and it is not on round the clock, all year round.

“On top of that, those who take the calls are not adequately trained to diagnose these cases and as scams take place almost instantly due to advanced technology, speed is of much necessity in stopping a scammer. 

“It should be a 24-hour hotline run by trained personnel at the call centre with the right amount of budget and resources.

“Without this, NSRC cannot fulfil its mandate as the national scam response centre,” said Fernandez, who is also a Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) commissioner.

He feels that there is much to be done to strengthen NSRC and coordinate its four main components – the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Bank Negara, MCMC and National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC) – to enable it to function more effectively as a one-stop anti-scam centre.

“The policies of NSRC must be pushed to reduce scam risks. My view is that the agency now has insufficient resources to carry out a full service to cover all complaints of scams.

“On top of that, it also lacks staff to conduct proper diagnoses of attempted scams,” he said.

Fernandez said that if NSRC is to function as a one-stop centre for all scam responses, the government must provide it with more funds and the latest technology.

“The agency head and staff members must also be given more command and control to be able to stop scammers,” he said.

He called on the four main components of NSRC as well as financial institutions to play their part in training the staff members.

“There must be clear and defined mandates, powers and financing of the centre,” said Fernandez.

Meanwhile, the Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye called for the government to equip the NSRC with the latest technologies to fight cybercrime as well as to update any obsolete cyber laws.

“In our fight against scamners, it is necessary to make full use of the NSRC but to do so the government must equip NSRC with the latest technologies.

“Online scamming has become such a serious issue that most of the criminal activities by scammers are online.

“We need to employ the latest technologies. We must utilise NSRC to deal with public complaints.

“We need to look at the expertise needed, albeit foreign expertise if need be,” said Lee.

He said that it is sad that although NSRC is already a year old, it has yet to be the one stop anti scam centre it was supposed to be.

“The authorities should revisit NSRC and ensure that more work is done to beef up the centre. It must involve all the four relevant components of the NSRC.

“I hope the authorities will make sure the centre is not only to solve scams but is also a prevention agency to stop more scams from happening.

“The government should also study the current cyber laws and amend them to ensure our cybersecurity legislation is updated to ensure we will win in our fight against cybercrime,” said Lee.

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 Millions lost to scammers posing as NSRC officials

KUALA LUMPUR: Scammers impersonating National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) personnel have already duped 60 people this year, resulting in RM7.6mil worth of losses, says Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf.

The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director said the victims would receive calls from someone claiming to be from the NSRC, who would then tell them that their phone number was linked to a scam report and might be cancelled.

“The call will then be transferred to another person, posing as a police officer.

“They will be told to follow every instruction until they eventually transfer funds to an account,” he said when contacted. 

Comm Ramli emphasised that NSRC operates solely as a one-way communications centre for reporting scams.

“NSRC officers will not call anyone and if you receive any calls claiming to be from the centre, it is definitely a scam.

“I also hope the public will make use of the SemakMule portal to check and verify bank accounts before making transactions,” he said.

The police have opened 60 investigations into such cases, involving RM7.6mil in losses, as of June 15, Comm Ramli said.

“One of the latest cases involves a 70-year-old retired factory worker in Johor who lost RM584,000 of his life savings after he received a call from scammers posing as NSRC officers,” he added.

On another matter, Comm Ramli said there were reported losses of RM1.07bil from 14,846 commercial cases in the first 24 weeks of the year.

“We recorded an average of 88 cases daily,” he said.

He added that the number of cases had increased slightly from the 14,798 cases that were recorded in the corresponding period last year.

“However, the amount of losses has spiked by about 27% as the cases resulted in RM843mil in losses last year,” he said.

He added that the CCID is confident in dealing with the huge number of cases, as it has seen an increase in successful prosecutions.

“A total of 7,018 investigation papers led to successful prosecutions this year compared with the same period last year when 6,219 prosecutions were recorded,” he said.

Comm Ramli reminded the public to be more vigilant.

“Help us spread commercial crime prevention messages. Let us work together to create a safer environment, free from commercial crime,” he said.

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Millions stolen from bank with insider help; Theft prompts security review

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KUALA LUMPUR: The suspects linked to the siphoning of millions from a bank targeted their victims based on insider information, says Bukit Aman.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf (pic)said the group stole the money in stages after they had identified high-value account holders.

“The money was taken out via the bank counter and the first one was conducted around April. Several more were done in May and June.

“With inside help, the money was taken out according to bank procedures. The case only came to light after an account holder went to the bank to update details,” he said at a press conference yesterday. 

He said it was possible that syndicate members who were working in the bank also directly facilitated the transactions.

Among those caught included a bank manager.

Investigations showed that the mastermind had expertise in forgery and the syndicate members would use forged identifications to take money out of targeted accounts. 

“The details would be the same but the photo and thumbprints would be changed,” he said, adding that forged documents were then used to facilitate the money transfers.

Meanwhile, another case has been detected, with losses involving RM551,000.

“This was done at another bank earlier in the year and we are also investigating that case,” he said.

When contacted, Comm Ramli said 13 people, including four bank employees, were detained recently in connection with millions of ringgit that vanished.

Arrests were mostly made in Kota Kinabalu with one suspect caught in Padang Besar, Perlis.

The case is currently being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

“The involvement of bank personnel in commercial crime is a very serious matter.

“In the past, we have encountered cases where bank personnel were complicit in crimes such as criminal breach of trust or embezzlement.

“There are also those who were in cahoots with theft or scam syndicates,” he said.

Comm Ramli urged financial institutions to improve their security such as tightening procedures or imposing stricter measures in regard to withdrawal from accounts.

“Such measures are necessary to prevent theft or missing funds from customers’ bank accounts.

“We feel that improvements are needed for the sake of the account holders,” he said.

From 2022 to June 15 this year, a total of 485 cases of missing funds from bank accounts have been recorded involving RM35.01mil in losses.

“From the overall statistics, this year alone we recorded RM25.76mil in losses and 65 cases.

“The highest number was 225 cases last year, but it involved only RM4.82mil, followed by 195 cases in 2022 involving RM4.42mil,” he said.

Besides the involvement of “inside men” in financial institutions, Comm Ramli said another factor that could have contributed to the missing funds was disclosure of banking details to a third party.

“Our investigations revealed that some victims might have intentionally or unintentionally revealed details of their online banking username and password,” he said.

Comm Ramli said scammers are known for using the phishing technique to dupe victims via email or text messages.

He advised the public to stay vigilant and be wary of tactics used by scammers.

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RM24mil bank fraud: Inside men picked high-value accounts to hit, says CCID director

Theft prompts security review

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PETALING JAYA: A recent embezzlement case involving bank staff in Kota Kinabalu has sparked calls for tighter security measures in financial institutions.

Universiti Sains Malaysia criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy (pix) said the recent case that saw over a dozen arrested was both concerning and a wake-up call.

“Although the number of wrongdoings and criminal acts by bank employees may be very minimal, it cannot be ignored.

ALSO READ: RM24.2mil fraud: BNM requests prompt refunds to all affected account holders 

“The rakyat, investors and the business community depend on the banks to safeguard their money.

“We don’t have a choice in this matter.

“Banks must aggressively play a role in eliminating undesirable employees,” he said, adding that banks need to invest in internal security and loss prevention departments, even if it incurs costs.

“These departments should have the expertise to detect embezzlement, fraud and misconduct by employees,” he said.

“Security investments are assets, not liabilities.”

ALSO READ: Millions stolen from bank with insider help

Drawing comparison with law enforcement bodies, he added that employees at highly sensitive areas should be rotated to avoid any potential for leakages within the bank, even if they are competent in their jobs.

“This is especially important for positions with access to customer accounts,” he said.

Pre-employment screening must also be done for all employees with regular assessments for those in service, he added.

Duties must also be “robustly” segregated, with dual authorisation practices implemented as well.

“That was a substantial amount of money (lost) and I hope measures will be taken.

“Since it was an inside job, the bank must be responsible for covering every single ringgit and sen that was misappropriated.

“Banks must be proactive and they should work together with the victims and law enforcement to ensure such incidents are reported.

“Employee pilferage is not new but it is also not frequent. We must not tolerate it,” he said, adding that harsh penalties and criminal charges must be meted out on those involved.

Such cases, he said, also affects the credibility of the bank involved as customer confidence will drop.

Previously, Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said that four police reports were lodged since early June regarding suspicious transactions, with losses estimated to be around RM24.2mil.

As of June 18, the police have arrested 13 suspects aged between 22 and 52 years old.

Four suspects were found to be employees of the bank. 

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/06/22/theft-prompts-security-review

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Weed out the problematic, errant, incompetent officers early

Commissioner Of Buildings (COB) In Malaysia, And Their 6 Main Functions

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Have you heard of the Commissioner of Buildings (COB)? Maybe it’s whispered about in your apartment complex at night — “be sure to pay your maintenance fees, or the Commissioner of Buildings will get you”.

Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as that! The COB is actually a valuable part of effective facility management, and that’s particularly important when you live in a large stratified property.

So, let’s dispel the myths and get down to the truth. Here’s everything you need to know about the Commissioner of Building in Malaysia, and why that’s important to you as a property owner.

Understanding The Commissioner Of Buildings

The Commissioner of Buildings is essentially an enforcement officer designed to police the rules and regulations of the Strata Management Act 2013 (SMA).

This Act is the framework of regulation, which ensures stratified properties are managed and maintained in an effective and fair manner.

It’s the set of rules that lays out the rights and obligations of every single stratified property owner in Malaysia, as well as other relevant parties, such as management bodies and developers.

It includes essential elements of stratified property ownership, such as the rules and limits around maintenance fees and sinking funds.

A COB will only ever be appointed to oversee stratified properties such as apartments, condos, or flats, so you don’t have to worry about someone turning up at your bungalow looking to enforce any rules!

Stratified properties are those where owners possess a strata title to individual property units as part of a larger shared development, and some less common property types like townhouses.

In addition, the Commissioner of Buildings is empowered by a local council authority within a given state.

So, for example: the Commissioner of Buildings Selangor will have separate agents appointed by, and responsible for, municipal councils from Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Kajang, and so on.

You can find a handy list of Commissioner of Buildings compiled by the National House Buyers Association to refer to here.

The COB is empowered to investigate and adjudicate on breaches of the SMA, providing a neutral third-party that ensures all rules are fairly applied to everyone involved. Basically, they’re kind of like the sheriff of building management.

PropertyGuru Tip

The term ‘adjudicate’ simply refers to the process of determining how much stamp duty is payable for the instrument of transfer.

A Commissioner of Buildings’ role isn’t just about punishing people though. It’s designed to ensure proper management and upkeep of stratified property is maintained for the benefit of all.

They’ve even got a cool description of their objective, taken from the official Klang Commissioner of Buildings’ website:

To ensure maintenance of joint property is implemented, based on the law and procedures, for creating harmony in life sharing joint property for the development of elevated [buildings].

What Does The Commissioner Of Buildings Do?

Like we’ve highlighted above, the Commissioner of Buildings enforces the rules laid out in the Strata Management Act 2013. But what does that really cover?

It’s not just maintenance fees and sinking funds like you might think. There are six main functions of the Department of Building Commissioner, as noted by the Klang COB:

1. Conducting inventory on buildings within the relevant local area.
2. Ensure the establishment of a Joint Management Body (JMB) for development involving stratified planning.
3. Resolving any dispute between the developer and the purchaser relating to the establishment of the JMB and account maintenance.
4. Monitor the action of a developer in addressing repair defects.
5. Enforce the law stipulated in the Strata Management Act (Act 757) 2013 and the Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757).
6. Provide periodic learning about administrative management, audited accounts, financial provisions and other various topics related to the management of JMB/MC.

That list of duties covers a whole range of property management obligations, from accounts right through to education and support for the Joint Management Body (JMB) or Management Corporation (MC).

The Commissioner of Buildings is entitled to a range of powers in order to fulfill the obligations highlighted above.

They include, but are not limited to, access to accounts of management boards and developers for the purpose of auditing.

That means all decisions made by the COB should be informed by the latest financial information to ensure appropriate oversight.

The COB can also step in and appoint an individual to assemble meetings in order to meet the obligations of building management, or order the MC itself to hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) if required.

Commissioner of Buildings, or authorised personnel designated by the COB, may access a property for the purpose of carrying out essential repairs at any time.

The COB also has power to prosecute any individuals who fail to meet their payment obligations such as management or maintenance fees, and adjudicate on any dispute around payment of such fees.

That includes obligations around the defect liability period that’s laid out in the Housing Development Act.

Is The COB Always Right?

It might sound like the COB is some sort of all-powerful overseer of strata property management, but that doesn’t mean they’re not also held accountable.

The COB is answerable to the Strata Management Tribunal. On top of that, the rulings of the COB are ultimately answerable to legal processes in the courts, and challenges to COB decisions can be brought in via this way.

In one example from 2010, a Management Corporation (MC) for a development in Penang challenged the COB in the High Court over a ruling that only unit owners could be elected as council members of stratified property management corporations.

The COB ruling, and the following appeal, were later upheld. The COB isn’t always in the right, however.

In 2013, the COB ruled on a case whereby a developer owed a JMB for a shortfall of RM500,000 in overdue maintenance funds.

The JMB referred the matter to the COB, who ruled that the sum was owed by the developer to the JMB. A court ruling later dismissed this, citing lack of jurisdiction in this matter by the COB.

What’s The Difference Between COB And Strata Management Tribunal?

At this point, some of you might be wondering where the Strata Management Tribunal (SMT) comes into play?

The Strata Management Tribunal is another legally recognised body, which, like the Commissioner of Buildings, provides a vital service in overseeing stratified properties.

While the COB is concerned with the general needs and enforcement of building maintenance and management, the SMT is a body which exclusively deals with resolving disputes. There are some subtle differences however, that should be recognised.

Ultimately, the COB is answerable to the SMT, since it’s the empowered legal authority for overseeing the implementation of the full Strata Management Act 2013. The Strata Management Tribunal is limited to claims brought by the following parties:

• Developer
• Purchaser
• Proprietor
• Joint Management Body (JMB)
• Management Corporation (MC)
• Subsidiary Management Company (SMC)
• Managing agent
• Relevant parties (Special permission granted by Tribunal)

The SMT is designed to provide an affordable and accessible dispute resolution body for problems of stratified ownership. There’s no legal representation required, except in extremely complex cases where it’s deemed that one party may be disadvantaged by lack of representation.

The critical point to understand about the SMT in relation to the COB is that the SMT will only hear claims covering financial costs up to a maximum RM250,000.

Any cases over that amount, such as the 2013 disputed claim noted above, are outside that scope. You can find out more about the full details of the Strata Management Tribunal here.

Breaking down the difference between SMT and COB in the most simple way possible – the Commissioner of Buildings is the sheriff and the enforcer, the Strata Management Tribunal is the judge(s) who oversee application of the law.

These are all important measures to ensure all stratified properties don’t end up becoming like the Wild Wild West of property management!

Relevant Guides:

• Serviced Apartment vs Condo In Malaysia – What’s The Difference?

• What You Should Know About Living In A Strata Landed Property In Malaysia

• 9 Townhouses Below RM500,000 In Klang Valley You Should Check Out!

Disclaimer: The information is provided for general information only. PropertyGuru International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd makes no representations or warranties in relation to the information, including but not limited to any representation or warranty as to the fitness for any particular purpose of the information to the fullest extent permitted by law. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this article is accurate, reliable, and complete as of the time of writing, the information provided in this article should not be relied upon to make any financial, investment, real estate or legal decisions. Additionally, the information should not substitute advice from a trained professional who can take into account your personal facts and circumstances, and we accept no liability if you use the information to form decisions.

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‘Review Strata Management Act’

 

‘Review Strata Management Act’

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Separate role for property managers

Borhan (front row, third from left) with attendees during the Strata Residential Building Management Enhancement Seminar in Shah Alam.

A REVIEW of the Strata Management Act 2013 is needed to ensure existing laws and regulations are relevant and effective, says Selangor housing and culture committee chairman Borhan Aman Shah.

He said the law needs to address emerging challenges faced by joint management bodies (JMB) and management corporations (MC).

Borhan said the Housing and Local Government Ministry should consider providing more funds and grants to JMB and MC to assist them in implementing maintenance and repair projects.

“Provide more training and capacity building for JMB and MC members as well as building management agents,” he said during the Strata Residential Building Management Enhancement Seminar at a convention centre in Shah Alam. 

Borhan said the ministry should introduce new technology for strata management.

“This includes the use of mobile apps and digital management systems to streamline the daily operations of JMB and MC in enhancing management efficiency,” he said.

He also suggested that personal accident insurance packages be included for JMB and MC committee members under the amended law to motivate them to carry out their duties.

He said for example, when the JMB or MC carried out maintenance checks and the elevator in an apartment was faulty, their safety could be at risk.

Such checks, Borhan said were made without any guarantee that they would be compensated in the event of an untoward incident.

“There is nothing to ensure their safety or welfare, and many felt burdened when carrying out their jobs.

“Besides the insurance, JMB should be allocated additional grants to enable them to carry out their responsibilities without having to worry about their safety.

Borhan advised those involved in managing apartments to attend seminars to empower and update themselves on governance system for JMB and MC.

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Govt to review, amend Strata Management Act

Govt to review, amend Strata Management Act

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is set to review the Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757) for amendment soon, said the local government development ministry.

Its deputy minister, Akmal Nasir, said the review and amendment of the Act were in line with the third Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan.

Strata Management Practice & Procedure A …

Strata Management Act 2013 [Act 757]

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13 Oct 2021 — Strata Management Act 2013 [Act 757]. Strata Management Act 2013 [Act 757]. Strata Management (Maintenance and Management) Regulations 2015

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Aged Birds cannot fly, What a great message to Human. Follow them

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Aged Birds cannot fly and there are no Old Age Homes for them. The small baby birds are feeding them. Great message for younger generation. Hats-off to Nature. They don’t go to school, no one taught them, but they know their responsibilities. What a great message to Human. Follow them.

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Unlocking doors with Mandarin fluency

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Two Steps to Mandarin Fluency

 

SJKC reality: For better future opportunities

  

JKC reality: Sink or swim for non-Chinese students?

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Testing his knowledge: Year 4 pupil Muaz Harith reading in Mandarin during a Science lesson while his teacher Tam Kai Shan looks on at SJK(C) Kampung Baru Paroi. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Many parents, including those who are non-Chinese, have opted to send their children to a Chinese school in the hopes of expanding their children’s opportunities in the future.

This is especially so as China has rapidly become a global economic powerhouse that is still expanding.

But what is the reality on the ground? Are employers more keen to hire workers with the added advantage of being fluent in Mandarin?

Having an extra language in your arsenal is always a positive thing in terms of employability, according to business leaders from various chambers of commerce and industry in the country.

While Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng agreed that being able to speak Mandarin gives one more options in terms of employment, he said proficiency in any foreign language is valuable in today’s more connected world.

It also depends on the specific business and its dealings, he added.

“It is always good for one to learn more languages, regardless of race. A lot of schools also offer French or Spanish 

“I think it all depends on the company. If my company specialises in dealing with Japan, for example, it would be good for me to have candidates who speak Japanese.

“Your supplier and your customer will feel more comfortable and the chances of misunderstandings will be lower,” he said.

Ng pointed out that there are other considerations when hiring an employee aside from their language proficiency.

“Language is important. But there are also more skill sets out there.

“So it really depends on a lot of factors. But being able to communicate in Mandarin is an advantage,” he said.

Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia president Tan Sri Low Kian Chuan believes Mandarin fluency will indeed improve someone’s chances of getting hired in China-oriented businesses and Chinese-populated countries such as China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

“Being able to communicate in their native language enhances communication and cultural understanding, develops connection and fosters trust, which are valuable in building stronger relationships and conducting business effectively,” he said.

He cited the example of the Malaysian tourism industry, where mastering Mandarin could help tourism practitioners such as tour agencies and tour guides provide value-added services and tour experiences for tourists from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Concurring, Christina Tee, president of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted that China is a big economic region now, so it is almost certain that being fluent in Mandarin will give these job seekers a higher potential of getting employed.

Those who learn an extra language tend to have very good communication skills as well, which will give them even more of an edge in getting hired, she added.

“They definitely stand a higher chance at getting better opportunities internationally because they have opened themselves up to a different kind of market,” she said.

This is the final part of Media in Arms’ special report series “SJKC: Reality for Non-Chinese students”, which explores the experience of non-Chinese students in Chinese schools.

Media in Arms is a media collaboration comprising five mainstream media outlets: Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily, Malay daily Sinar Harian, local news broadcaster Astro Awani, Tamil newspaper Malaysia Nanban and The Star, which formed this initiative in February 2022 to share resources and collaborate on diversified news content.

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The classic course on Generative AI by Martin Musiol; Can Generative AI unlock productivity and growth?

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28 Feb 2024 — MARTIN MUSIOL is the founder of generativeAI.net and the publisher of Generative AI: Short & Sweet, a popular artificial intelligence newsletter …

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Users will have control over generative AI in Windows

Copilot should be central to Windows 11 24H2. — AFP Relaxnews

Central to the next major Windows update, generative artificial intelligence promises to make its way into most Microsoft programs, in the aim of boosting user productivity. Users should, however, be able to decide which applications can and can’t make use of the technology.

Faced with concerns that generative AI could be too invasive, Microsoft is reportedly set to give users a say in how applications access these artificial intelligent tools. According to the XDA Developers website, the incoming major update to Windows 11 (24H2), expected by the end of the year, will offer the possibility of defining individual permissions for each application.

This will enable users to disable the use of generative AI for some or all applications. On a larger scale, companies will be able to disable access to this AI for all their employees if they deem it inappropriate or unnecessary.

The integration of generative artificial intelligence into Windows should simplify system management, as well as the day-to-day use of most of its accompanying programs. At the core of this update are the latest developments for Microsoft’s Copilot, provided it finally complies with European legislation on digital markets (DMA). 

Indeed, until further notice, Europeans will be left without Copilot, the AI-powered intelligent assistant with which it is possible to interact or customize a computer’s operating system. The assistant can be useful for working on various documents (rewriting, summarising or simply explaining them) and can answer practical questions. It can be accessed directly from the taskbar, and soon via a dedicated button on future PCs.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has sought to reassure users after its new Recall feature sparked controversy. In fact, the firm has said that Recall will now be an opt-in feature rather than activated by default. Considered to be particularly intrusive, but promising to facilitate PC searches, Recall is designed to take a series of screenshots of the computer at regular intervals and then save them locally, raising questions about privacy. Initially, however, this feature will only be available on the new Copilot+ PCs, which are due to go on sale this summer. – AFP Relaxnews

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28 Feb 2024 — MARTIN MUSIOL is the founder of generativeAI.net and the publisher of Generative AI: Short & Sweet, a popular artificial intelligence newsletter …Related stories:

AI will be at the heart of the next Windows update

Weed out the problematic, errant, incompetent officers early

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Upholding integrity: Ismail (centre) chairing the EAIC coordination meeting with heads of enforcement agencies. — Bernama

Problematic government officers found to be involved in malpractices or wrongdoings must have their services terminated early to put an end to integrity issues involving civil servants and management,  proposed the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).

Its chairman Tan Sri Ismail Bakar said the Malaysian civil service was once revered among the Commonwealth nations but noted that it is now entangled with integrity issues.

Ismail said giving marching orders to civil servants who are problematic is the way to go to prevent integrity issues from festering at the new department these officers are transferred to.

ALSO READ: Prepare to lose your job if you fail to report graft cases, warns MACC chief“

We are working on eradicating problematic officers in (government) agencies by way of early termination of their service. If the government agrees on this, it will be easier for us to perform our duties,” he said.

Ismail provided examples of court cases involving civil servants who have engaged in malpractice or misconduct.

“But we lost (the case). With the relevant laws, we can see how to terminate their service without having their case concluded in court trials,

Ismail said there has been precedent where problematic officials were terminated, citing existing regulations such as the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) 1993 that provide for this.

ALSO READ: ‘Be transparent in sacking corrupt civil servants’

He described the practice of transferring problematic officials to a different department as “a vicious cycle”, which might not be a deterrent.

“What is also worrying is that some civil servants and enforcement officers would get a third party, such as an influential individual or a company, to protect their wrongdoings.

“What is more saddening is that there are higher-ups who are complicit in their subordinates’ wrongdoings.

“In fact, some have even led such activities. Such deeds have tarnished the civil service’s image,” Ismail said.

ALSO READ: ‘Problematic’ civil servants risk early termination, says EAIC chief

He said if enforcement agencies’ disciplinary bodies do not adopt EAIC’s recommendations, it sends a signal that they are not serious about eradicating wrongdoing.

Ismail, who is a former chief secretary to the government, also said that low wages should not be an excuse to be corrupt.

“You already knew your wages (before joining the service), so why did you still take up the job?

“Never use low wages to legitimise corruption,” he said in his opening remarks at the EAIC coordination meeting with enforcement agencies’ department heads yesterday.

“If you love the civil service, carry out the duties you are assigned responsibly,” he said.

Ismail said the EAIC had received 229 reports on integrity cases between June 1, 2023, and May 31, this year, with the highest number of cases related to the Immigration Department.

During this period, the commission initiated 17 investigation papers regarding alleged malpractices by civil servants.

Almost 90% of the probes have been completed and decisions have already been reached regarding two individuals who are being investigated.

The EAIC had, among other things, recommended terminating the public officers’ service, halting their promotion and issuing warnings.

EAIC is a federal statutory body responsible for monitoring and investigating public complaints about the alleged misconduct of enforcement officers or agencies as listed in Act 700.

Currently, it has 21 enforcement agencies under its supervision.

This includes the Immigration Department, Customs Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, National Registration Department and Road Transport Department, among others.Ismail also said that the commission is looking for more agencies to fall under its jurisdiction.

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Backing the US house of cards

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The United States of America is in competition with China, but not ideologically. Who initiated the first agreements with China to outsource factories if not the United States of America themselves? They cannot tell us that it is a fight for freedom… It’s [ ] because China is becoming the world’s leading power, and from there, gradually, dollars will no longer be used as much as before to trade goods. Thus, the empire is hit at its core.”

“Its core is its currency, which it can print as much as it wants because it is not bound by any of the rules that apply to all other nations. They can print as much as they want, as long as you need it for your exchanges, to buy raw materials, to buy oil, to buy minerals, etc., etc. And the day it stops, that is, the day nations agree among themselves to pay in their currency, it’s over, and the empire collapses.”

– From a recent speech by French Left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, shared on X & translated by Arnaud Bertrand.

Melenchon articulates what lies at the heart of the ‘China threat’ – a threat Australia is committed to warding off with hundreds of billions of Australian taxpayer dollars, though that threat is couched in very different terms for public consumption.

At the same time as it has enjoyed the privilege of printing money, the US has weaponised the dollar, imposing unilateral sanctions that are then also adopted by its allies. Whilst this has been a longstanding practice, it is the recent sanctions imposed against Russia that have accelerated a move away from the dollar, with adversaries and some allies turning to alternative settlement mechanisms.

The European Central Bank has acknowledged the world is becoming more multipolar and the dominance of the US dollar is in decline as moves to dedollarise accelerate and new strategic alliances emerge, not least that of BRICS and the key China Russia alliance – the latter very much an own goal for the US.

The US reiterated in Singapore recently that in spite of its involvement in Ukraine and Israel, the Indo-Pacific is the country’s main focus, not Europe or the Middle East – ‘Indo-Pacific’ the nomenclature now widely adopted in the West, where China is the elephant in the region that had long been the Asia-Pacific.

The US has 313 bases in east Asia out of 750 worldwide, and while its own geography precludes a reciprocal strategy, it constitutes a show of force against China, now boosted by AUKUS.

The China ‘threat’ has been a long-standing fear in Australia – ‘yellow peril’, the threat of being invaded, and with it the threat of the imposition of communism. Nothing in China’s recent history justifies such a fear, which is extended to a more generalised dread of the rise of a global bad faith actor. That we are led to fear what China might do, will do, in the face of what the US has actually done beggars belief.

Economic growth brings power and influence and the ways in which the US has used its power and influence have been transparent despite attempts at subterfuge. The American era will be remembered for an order not based on international law, but a Rules-Based-Order where the US sets the rules and gives the orders: endless wars to sustain its military industrial complex have killed millions, displaced millions, and in the case of Iraq destroyed an entire nation, and anti-democratic behaviour where it has toppled elected leaders who have had the temerity to prosecute their sovereign interests and resisted coercion.

US heavyweight geopolitical analyst and former darling of the political establishment and legacy media, John Mearsheimer recently clarified this for Piers Morgan who has been among the sea of advocats for benign US intervention to champion democracy, in a sobering demolition of that illusion.

Since Mearsheimer’s criticism of US involvement in Ukraine, and now the US role in Israel & the Occupied Territories, he has been unceremoniously dumped from almost all platforms available to him in his decades-long career and his views are now to be found almost exclusively in independent media.

Mearsheimer is however a China hawk – a recognition that the central interest in the prosecution of US foreign policy should be economic, because it is the base from which the US exerts power and influence. But China will not be ‘contained’ economically. Which great power would? Enter the potential for a major – and possibly nuclear – war in our front yard.

Mearsheimer famously warned Australia will sacrifice its prosperity for security. He also alerted us to be aware there is only one thing more dangerous than being an enemy of the United States, and that is to be its friend. As the Ukrainian people have discovered.

More recently he warned if we are trading with China and friendly with China, we will be an enemy of the US. Australia has yet to see the full consequence of this in the leadup to hostilities.

Yet we are told, The China Threat .. is to shipping lanes, though China has as great if not greater interest in protecting those shipping lanes – trade has played an integral part in enabling it to drag 800 million of its 1.4 billion people out of poverty.

The China Threat .. is to Taiwan, an island historically linked to China in both its ethnic composition & administration, but which became the base of a ‘Chinese-government-in-exile’. Its current situation is a consequence and remnant of the Chinese civil war .

The Chinese have not forgotten Taiwan was used as a base to attack China by Japan in late 1930’s and are understandably unhappy to have US bases on the island – U.S. Special Forces are now permanently stationed at a pair of bases barely a mile from China’s mainland coast.

Taiwan is critical for the US as a base from which to threaten and provoke China. Brandishing this as some sort of defence of democratic values and sovereignty is disingenuous and flies in the face of a real understanding of US foreign policy strategy, as Mearsheimer points out.

China’s actual threat & great sin has been to outstrip the US in economic growth.

With economic growth comes power and influence, but there is no evidence that China is using or intends to use that power and influence in the same way the United States has.

There are no geopolitical commentators as knowledgeable, incisive and constructive for our region as Kishore Mahbubani who points out we are now in the Asian Century, the unipolar world is gone, and one of the defining questions of our time is whether the South China Sea will be a zone of peace or a zone of war.

What is threatening peace? Which narrative of the two is right? What can we do about it? In answering these 3 questions, Mahbubani reveals Xi Jinping made an offer to Barack Obama for both countries to demilitarise the South China Sea but the offer was rebuffed. Factually true he says, but ‘the Anglo Saxon media will never tell the alternative story’, in fact they prefer to, ‘tell outright lies’. He rebuffs many western misconceptions about the US China stand-off.

Our leadership would do well to listen to what Mahbubani has to say.

Risking nuclear war to prop up a fading hegemon bears the hallmark of a catastrophic mistake with disastrous consequences for humanity and the planet. Our times call for outstanding leadership. We navigate the challenges of this century to our great peril without it.

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Mary Kostakidis

Mary Kostakidis is a journalist. She presented SBS World News for two decades.

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Prolonging the phone’s life

Tweet #Rightways

Smartphones are getting a longer life, with extended software updates promising up to seven years of use.

EVERY smartphone has an expiration date. That day arrives when the software updates stop coming and you start missing out on new apps and security protections. With most phones, this used to happen after about three years.

But things are finally starting to change. The new number is seven.

Google announced that with its Pixel 8 smartphone, released in October, it is committed to providing software updates for the phone for seven years, up from three years for its previous Pixels.

This year, Samsung, the most profitable Android phone maker, set a similar software timeline for its flagship Galaxy S24.

Both companies said they had expanded their software support to make their phones last longer. This is a change from how companies used to talk about phones.

Not long ago, tech giants unveiled new devices that encouraged people to upgrade every two years.

But in the past few years, smartphone sales have slowed down worldwide as their improvements have become more marginal. Nowadays, people want their phones to endure.

Samsung and Google, the two most influential Android device makers, are playing catch-up with Apple, which has traditionally provided software updates for iphones for roughly seven years.

These moves will make phones last much longer and give people more flexibility to decide when it’s time to upgrade.

Google said in a statement that it had expanded its software commitment because it wanted customers to feel confident in Pixel phones. And Samsung said it would deliver seven years of software updates, which increase security and reliability, for all its Galaxy flagship phones from now on.

Here’s what you should know about why this is happening and what you can do to make your phone last longer.

Why is this happening?

In the past, Android phone makers said the technical process of providing software updates was complicated, so to stay profitable, they dropped support after a few years. But tech companies are now under intense external pressure to invest in making their devices last longer.

In 2021, the US Federal Trade Commission announced that it would ramp up enforcement against tech companies that made it difficult to fix and maintain their products.

That accelerated the “right to repair” movement, a piece of proposed US legislation that required companies to provide the parts, tools and software to extend the lives of their products.

Google announced its new commitment to smartphones after being pressured to make a similar move for its laptops.

In September, the company agreed to expand software support for its Chromebook to 10 years, up from eight, in response to a grassroots campaign that highlighted how shortlived Google laptops were causing budget crunches in schools.

Nathan Proctor, a director at US PIRG, a non-profit largely funded by small donors that led the Chromebook campaign, said the new standard of seven years of support for smartphones would have a profound effect.

“It’s a huge win for the environment,” he said. “I want to see more of it.”

What else do I need to do?

Software updates are one big part of what keeps a phone working well, but there are other steps to lengthen smartphone lives, similar to maintaining a car.

They include replacing the phone battery every two years. The lithium-ion batteries in phones have a finite life. After about two years, the amount of charge they can hold diminishes, and it’s wise to replace the battery.

Replacing a smartphone battery isn’t easy, so it’s best to get help from the manufacturer’s service centre or a reputable shop.

Some smartphone companies, for instance, allow customers to schedule a battery replacement appointment at a retail store through their website.

Protect it

Smartphones are still mostly made of glass, so to make a phone last seven years, it’s wise to invest in a high-quality case.

A screen protector is an extra safeguard, though many won’t enjoy how it distorts the picture quality of the screen. The New York Times’ sister site that reviews products, Wirecutter, recommends cases from brands like Smartish, Spigen, and Mujjo, or cases from the phone makers themselves.

Unless you’re very accident-prone, I recommend against buying extended warranties because their costs can exceed the cost of a repair.

Clean it

Smartphones have few moving parts, so there’s little we have to do to physically maintain them. But most of us neglect cleaning the parts that we rarely look at: charging ports and speaker holes.

Over time, those holes are clogged with dirt, pocket lint and makeup. That built-up debris can make a phone take longer to charge or a phone call more difficult to hear.

“It’s the belly button lint of cellphones,” said Kyle Wiens, CEO of ifixit, a site that publishes instructions and sells parts to repair electronics.

Fortunately, he added, you don’t need a fancy tool. Just use a toothpick to dig out the gunk.

Should you upgrade?

I always recommend buying a product based on the here and now – what it can do for you today, as opposed to what companies say it will do in the future. You should continue to buy a phone based on this principle.

Plenty of people will choose to upgrade sooner for other reasons, like getting a new feature such as a better camera or a longer-lasting battery.

But those who just want to buy a phone that lasts as long as possible should pick one that will be economical to repair when things break.

By BRIAN X. CHEN

Smartphones can now last seven years. Here’s how to …

Every smartphone has an expiration date. That day arrives when software updates stop coming and you start missing out on new apps and security protections. With most phones, this happened after about only three years. Things are finally starting to change. The new number is seven. — The New York Times

https://www.thestar.com.my › tech-news › 2024/05/28