All schools must have safety coordinators
I believe the problem lies in two fundamental areas – misallocation of responsibility and an inconsistent approach to enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994.
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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Ex-rep turns the tables on deepfake scam ring
PETALING JAYA: With the faces of popular figures appearing in deepfake videos promoting investment scams, a former state assemblyman has deliberately stepped into the trap to expose the syndicate's tactics. Former Pasir Pinji assemblyman Datuk Chan Kam said he recently discovered that AI-generated scam videos were widely circulating on social media. 'I decided to click on one of them and enter my contact details to see what would happen. 'Soon after, I received a phone call from someone inviting me to invest in a plan. 'The caller said if I chip in US$250 (RM1,100), I could receive a return of between RM5,000 and RM20,000,' he told a press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong yesterday. Chan said after transferring the money into a bank account, the scammer kept updating him daily on his supposed investment status while persuading him to invest further. But he stopped just there. Cause for concern: Chong speaking on the rise of AI-powered cheating cases in Malaysia during a press conference at Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur. Looking on is Chan (centre). — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star 'Obviously, the money is gone,' he said, adding that the fund was pooled by himself, Chong, and several members of the Crime Prevention Foundation and the Malaysia-China Friendship and Mutual Aid Association. Chan said he had gathered the relevant evidence and planned to lodge a police report. 'I hope that by sharing my story, more people will be cautious and not fall for these scams,' he said. Chong said deepfake videos featuring celebrities, politicians, high-ranking civil servants and prominent businessmen endorsing investment scams are increasingly being used to deceive unsuspecting investors. He cited one particularly absurd clip showing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaking in English with a Tamil accent. 'It's ridiculous. Remember, there is no such thing as easy money. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is fake,' he added. Sharing police statistics, Chong said a total of 13,956 scam cases involving RM2.11bil were reported last year, with 85% of victims lured through social media. Also present were lawyer James Ee Kah Fuk, Perak Malaysia-China Friendship and Mutual Aid Association chairman Chuah Ai Ngor, and Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Department chief Yuen Zhan How.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Online scams becoming ‘silent killers', police say
ACP Abdul Rozak (centre) launching the poster. With him are Teoh (right) and Hoe. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star THE growing menace of online scams have become impossible to ignore, with police describing them as 'silent killers', where the crimes not only drain victims financially but also leave lasting emotional scars and shatter livelihoods. Investigation officer Inspector Muhammad Hyzreen Mohd Zain said such scams could wipe out victims' savings and 'subsequently destroy their lives.' 'Scams don't just take your money, they destroy futures. They're silent killers,' he said during his speech at Scam Awareness Talk + Say No to Scam campaign held at a mall in Farlim, Air Itam, Penang. He said such crimes could also tarnish the reputation of enforcement agencies and erode public trust when victims mistakenly believe authorities failed to act. He urged the public to practise digital vigilance to prevent falling prey to such schemes. Insp Muhammad Hyzreen urges the public to practise digital vigilance. Insp Muhammad Hyzreen stressed that many victims unknowingly allow scammers access to their financial information simply by downloading suspicious apps or clicking unverified links. He advised the public to avoid sharing personal or banking information over the phone, even if the caller claimed to be from a government agency or financial institution. He said scammers would often impersonate officials to gain trust and extract confidential data. Insp Muhammad Hyzreen also reminded attendees to be wary of investment offers that promise unusually high returns. 'Always verify with Bank Negara or official sources before committing to any investment platform,' he said. He encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity immediately to the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997, or contact the nearest police station for guidance. The talk, organised as part of the campaign, aimed to educate the public on emerging fraud tactics and reinforce the importance of community vigilance in combating financial crime. Organised by 30 Lions Clubs from Penang with collaboration from police, the event also saw the launch of the Call 997 poster. Event organising chairman Teoh Shaw Jhee said the club had printed 2,000 copies of A2 posters which will be put up around Penang. 'The posters will be placed in public areas such as markets, schools, malls and high-rise buildings,' Teoh said in his speech. Teoh said cyber and financial scam cases were now a threat to the public, and as such, it was important to raise awareness. He said Lions Clubs could help police raise awareness of scams. He said the posters was also to inform and educate the public on who to call if they faced the threat of scams in their daily life. 'Awareness is our first line of defence, calling 997 is the right way when you risk being scammed,' he added. Present during the programme were George Town OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rozak Muhammad, his deputy Supt Lee Swee Sake and District Governor Lions 308 B2 Don Hoe. ACP Abdul Rozak, who launched the poster, praised Lions Clubs for organising the event and described the initiative as a noble effort. 'While we remain fully committed to combating corruption, success requires the collective support and cooperation of all stakeholders,' he said in his speech. He advised the public not to be easily misled or duped by attractive offers from unknown individuals online.
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Temple with a tragic dark past
JOHOR BARU: In a quiet corner of a middle-class neighbourhood, a seemingly ordinary single- storey house, adorned with red lanterns and banners, serves as a Chinese temple. However, this nondescript place harbours a tragic past. About 24 years ago, a gruesome murder took place here, claiming the lives of a family of seven spanning three generations. This dark history is acknowledged within the temple, where seven miniature photographs of the deceased are displayed alongside several Hindu prayer items kept in one of the rooms. 'It was a murder case that even grabbed international headlines,' said Persatuan Penganut Dewa Zhang Sheng temple chairman Lee Lian Chye, 56. Lee, who has been taking care of the temple from day one, said they knew about the history of the house but decided to move in anyway in 2012. 'The rental was only RM400 at that time,' he explained. It is now RM700. The house, he said, had been vacant for many years after the murder occurred on July 28, 2001. Lee brushed aside questions about the history of the house, saying that he had never experienced anything odd or eerie. He, however, acknowledged that no one has ever spent the night there. These days, a huge statue of a deity stands guard at the hall of the three-room house. A dozen others of various sizes are placed around the house including in the kitchen area. 'In the early days, this temple was popular. People would come from as far as Singapore to pray as they believed it would bring them wealth and luck in their career,' Lee recalled. (Left) Temple volunteer Chen looking at newspaper articles on the murders that took place at the house in 2001. — THOMAS YONG/The Star But the Covid-19 pandemic, he said, became a turning point with fewer visitors since then. These days, the temple only opens on Fridays. 'I have a regular job. I need to work to earn a living,' he said. Lee, who is a businessman, said the house is being rented from a family member of the deceased. However, he said the temple members hope to get a piece of land from the state government to relocate so that they could have a place of their own. A temple volunteer, Chen Boon Ping, who previously offered religious classes to former convicts at the Ayer Molek prison, recalled the murder which he said was 'big news' then. 'I remember two Bangladeshis being arrested and brought to the prison where I taught Buddhism,' said Chen, 52. The Bangladeshi nationals, Mohd Masud Rana Mohd Mofiz Uddin and Razaul Karim Mohd Soleman Ali Fakir, aged 27 and 32 then, were charged with having killed the family between 1.41am and 7.43am on July 28, 2001. The deceased were S. Perumal Suppan, 49, his wife Mangala Gowri Kathiravalu, 42, Perumal's sisters Amudavalli Suppiah, 45, and Letchimee Suppan, 51, Perumal's mother Ramaiee Suppiah, 65, Ramaiee's brother Muniandy Suppiah, 71, and Amudavalli's daughter Vasagi Balakrishnan, 27. Mohd Masud was sentenced to death for the crime on July 11, 2007, while the court released Razaul Karim. One of the neighbours, who declined to be named, said he had been living next door since 2003. 'I bought the place at a good price. The previous owner was trying to sell it for almost one year,' said the man, who is from Singapore. He said that he and his family have been living there peacefully from the day they moved in. 'I have not encountered anything strange,' he said.
