2027 Budget: Security measures must deliver stronger enforcement, says criminologist

KUALA LUMPUR: The 2027 Budget's increased focus on border security, scam prevention and online child protection must translate into stronger enforcement, said senior criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy.

He said the effectiveness of the RM490 million allocation to the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) would depend on whether it addressed weaknesses exploited by organised crime syndicates.

"Smuggling, human trafficking, migrant smuggling and the movement of illicit goods are not merely border-control problems. They involve networks of recruiters, transporters, financiers, intermediaries and corrupt facilitators.

"Enforcement agencies must move beyond intercepting individuals and consignments to identifying and dismantling these networks," he told the New Straits Times.

He said this required better intelligence-sharing among MCBA, the police, Immigration Department, Customs Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and regional counterparts, particularly in Thailand and Indonesia.

"Risk-based screening, surveillance and intelligence-led inspections at land, sea and air entry points should also be strengthened, alongside proper staff training, equipment maintenance and supervision.

"Internal integrity is equally important. Transparent recruitment and deployment, regular integrity assessments, effective complaint mechanisms and credible investigations into misconduct are needed to reduce the risk of enforcement personnel being compromised by criminal interests," he said.

Sundramoorthy said the allocation should be assessed against measurable outcomes, including the number of criminal networks disrupted, major organisers prosecuted, illicit financial flows identified and trafficking victims protected.

On the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to combat scams, he said the technology should serve as an early-warning and risk-assessment tool, rather than a guarantee that a transaction or contact was safe.

"Its effectiveness depends on the quality and timeliness of available information, how quickly suspicious accounts and telephone numbers are flagged, and how frequently the system is updated.

"Criminals can change telephone numbers, rotate accounts and adapt their methods. False positives are also possible, so procedures are needed to correct inaccurate flags and protect legitimate users," he said.

He said scam prevention must also address fraudsters' psychological tactics, including emotional manipulation, impersonation of trusted authorities and prolonged relationship-building.

"Public awareness efforts should teach people to recognise manipulation, verify identities independently and pause before transferring money, particularly when faced with high-pressure requests.

"At the enforcement level, closer cooperation among the police, National Scam Response Centre, Bank Negara Malaysia, financial institutions, telecommunications providers and international counterparts is needed to trace funds and investigate scam organisers," he said.

Authorities should also focus on money mules, shell entities, recruitment networks and cross-border financial flows, while distinguishing between knowing participants and those deceived into allowing their accounts to be used.

"The real test of the AI initiative is not how many suspicious numbers it identifies, but whether it prevents victimisation, reduces financial losses, accelerates the recovery of funds and helps bring the people organising these crimes to justice," he said.

On strengthening the Malaysia Internet Crime Against Children system, Sundramoorthy said identifying patterns, linking cases and detecting networks earlier could improve investigations into online child sexual exploitation.

However, he said analytical capabilities alone would not guarantee successful prosecutions.

Investigations also required trained personnel, digital-forensic specialists and procedures to preserve and present admissible evidence.