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Scams – Focusing on Laws and Technology is not Enough

Details: Category: Isu SCAM; Hits: 181

Scam prevention has long been framed as a technological arms race—better cybersecurity systems, tighter regulations, and stronger laws. While these are undeniably important, they are not sufficient. The uncomfortable truth is that scams persist not merely because of gaps in systems, but because they exploit something far more predictable and universal: human psychology. If we are serious about reducing scam victimisation, we must move beyond a purely institutional response and invest in scam literacy programmes that deeply integrate the psychology of scams to drive real behavioural change.

At its core, a scam is not just a technical deception; it is a psychological manipulation. Scammers do not randomly target vulnerabilities in software alone—they target vulnerabilities in people. Fear, urgency, trust, greed, loneliness, authority, and hope are the real entry points. Whether it is a phone call claiming to be from a bank, a message about a loved one in distress, or an investment promising unusually high returns, the tactics are carefully designed to override rational thinking and trigger emotional responses.

Court holds bank liable for failing to monitor customer’s accounts

Details: Category: Isu Kewangan; Hits: 191

KUALA LUMPUR:

The sessions court here today held that a local bank was liable for negligence in monitoring a customer’s accounts, resulting in RM166,000 in losses from unauthorised transactions.

Judge Maimoonah Aid awarded RM166,000 to Chan Yan Li after allowing her civil claim against Maybank. She also ordered the bank to pay RM15,000 in costs.

Chan filed the suit in 2022 after RM166,000 was transferred out of her loan account through a series of transactions between June and July 2021.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/05/12/court-holds-bank-liable-for-failing-to-monitor-customers-accounts

Thought impact: Building consumer resilience together

Details: Category: Berita Pengguna; Hits: 0

FOR decades, the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) has been at the forefront of advocating for fairer markets and stronger consumer protections, consistently raising concerns over issues ranging from unsafe products to rising living costs and household financial pressures.

And along that journey, it has worked closely with the county’s media, including The Star.

Addressing Medical Inflation in Malaysia

Details: Category: Berita Pengguna; Hits: 0

The reported 40% to 70% increase in medical insurance premiums has caused an uproar amongst Malaysian consumers. Many had taken private insurance to bypass the public healthcare system with its long waiting periods and frequently overburdened systems. They had expected that their insurance premiums would allow them fair access to the private healthcare system.

This sharp increase in insurance premiums has for many already struggling with stagnant incomes and higher living costs led to consumers giving up on their policies. It has been reported that between January 2024 and June 2025 more than 340,000 consumers had chosen to forgo their health insurance due to substantial premium increases by insurance companies.

PRESS RELEASE: MOH’S PROPOSED PATENT LINKAGE GUIDELINE RISKS HIGHER MEDICINE PRICES AND DELAYED ACCESS

Details: Category: Berita Pengguna; Hits: 0

Malaysia stands at a critical juncture in ensuring access to affordable medicines. The government’s decision to cut the health budget by RM3.06 billion, together with a proposed move by the Ministry of Health, risks worsening the situation.

In April, the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) opened a public consultation on its proposed ‘Guideline on Implementation of Patent Linkage for Pharmaceutical Products in Malaysia’, presented as fulfilling an obligation under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Although framed as procedural, the guideline’s implications run far deeper and threatens timely generic entry, medicine affordability and public health.

PRESS RELEASE: ON THE PROPOSED GUIDELINES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF PATENT LINKAGE FOR PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN MALAYSIA

Details: Category: Berita Pengguna; Hits: 0

Malaysia is facing a growing healthcare affordability crisis. Rising out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure, coupled with the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, is placing a significant financial strain on consumers. The proposed Patent Linkage Guidelines risk delaying access to affordable generic medicines, thereby worsening medicine affordability and consumer welfare.

WHY THIS MATTERS TO CONSUMERS

Medicine prices in Malaysia have consistently increased over time, with no clear evidence of price reductions. At the same time, capacity constraints in public healthcare are pushing more consumers toward higher-cost private care. As a result, many households especially those in the B40 and M40 groups are facing significant out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, the lack of timely availability of generic alternatives means that high prices persist longer, limiting access to necessary treatment. Higher prices lead to delayed or skipped treatment, as many consumers are unable to afford the medicines they need. This, in turn, contributes to financial hardship, especially for lower- and middle-income households. Ultimately, these challenges result in poorer health outcomes due to lack of timely and adequate care.

Chief Statistician urges Malaysians to rebuild discipline, warning QR payments make saving harder than ever

Details: Category: Berita Pengguna; Hits: 0

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — From stamp books and post office savings to instant QR payments, Malaysians’ relationship with money has shifted dramatically — and not necessarily for the better.

That is the candid view of Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin, who said the convenience of digital payments may be quietly eroding the discipline that once defined how Malaysians saved.

Speaking alongside the release of the National Transfer Accounts (NTA) 2022 by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Uzir reflected on how earlier generations were conditioned to save from a young age — often through simple but consistent habits.

“When we were in school, there was already a concept of saving. Teachers would bring stamp books, and if we didn’t spend our money, we would paste the stamps and save. At the time, there weren’t many banks around.

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Malaysians paying twice for poor waste management, says researcher

Details: Category: Isu Umum; Hits: 184

Malaysians paying twice for poor waste management, says researcher

Keeren Sundara Rajoo says solid waste management and public cleansing account for 40% to 80% of local authority expenditure in Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are unknowingly paying twice for poor waste management through public spending and hidden costs such as pollution and health risks, a researcher says.

Keeren Sundara Rajoo of Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak said that solid waste management and public cleansing account for between 40% and 80% of local authority expenditure in Malaysia, the Borneo Post reported.

“People may not see a separate charge for waste, but they are already paying for it through local authority spending,” he was quoted as saying.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/04/29/malaysians-paying-twice-for-poor-waste-management-says-researcher

BNM fines Zurich units RM1.56mil over sanctions breaches

Details: Category: Isu Kewangan; Hits: 229

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Scams – Focusing on Laws and Technology is not Enough

Court holds bank liable for failing to monitor customer’s accounts

Thought impact: Building consumer resilience together

Addressing Medical Inflation in Malaysia

PRESS RELEASE: MOH’S PROPOSED PATENT LINKAGE GUIDELINE RISKS HIGHER MEDICINE PRICES AND DELAYED ACCESS

PRESS RELEASE: ON THE PROPOSED GUIDELINES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF PATENT LINKAGE FOR PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN MALAYSIA

Chief Statistician urges Malaysians to rebuild discipline, warning QR payments make saving harder than ever

Malaysians paying twice for poor waste management, says researcher

BNM fines Zurich units RM1.56mil over sanctions breaches

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