Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to combat scams across telecommunication channels.
The MOU between the two parties was signed on Feb 25 in Barcelona, Spain, at the Mobile World Congress.
In as press release by IMDA, the government agency noted that scams is a cross border issue requiring strong cooperation amongst countries. Singapore and Malaysia are close neighbours and share a common resolve in combatting scams. Both countries have collaborated across many issues, such as cross border enforcement actions against scammers.
Malaysia is therefore a key partner for Singapore in building up regional cooperation in combating scams across the telecommunications channels for both countries.
The said MOU was signed by Lew Chuen Hong, chief executive of IMDA and Tan Sri Mohamad Salim bin Fateh Din, chairman of MCMC. The MOU seeks to strengthen cross-border exchange of strategic intelligence to combat scams across telecommunications channels and drive a coordinated regional approach to better protect both countries’ citizens from scammers.
These include the following key areas: provide regulatory assistance and cooperation related to scam telephone calls and text messages; facilitate research and education related to scam telephone calls and text messages; and facilitate the mutual exchange of knowledge and expertise through training programmes and staff exchanges.
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This MOU with MCMC follows a similar MOU IMDA entered with New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs, United States Federal Communications Commission and Australia’s Communications and Media Authority to address the threat of scams. This latest MOU with MCMC represents a further step to strengthen international partnerships against scams coming through telecommunication channels.
