DATUK SERI (DR.) ENG WEI CHUN – NEGLECTING GENERAL KNOWLEDGE LEADS TO RISKS
The importance of general knowledge is frequently undervalued in Asian developing societies. In most Asian families and individuals’ way of thinking, general knowledge is regarded as secondary rather than a fundamental aspect of education. This mindset is reflected in family education, where, due to limited general knowledge from the parent resulting the relevant information are not properly imparted to the children. As compared to developed countries, Asian developing societies place greater emphasis on professional education such as medicine, engineering, accounting, and law because these professions are seen as directly improving quality of life with higher incomes. In contrast, those professional education is viewed as just a foundation in developed countries and their education systems place great emphasis on strengthening general knowledge, as well as inversion thinking abilities including not just logical thinking, but also the ability to think counterintuitively.
Recently, scam syndicates have been extremely active in Asian developing countries, which their tactics evolving rapidly from online investment scams and prize notifications to impersonating government agencies. According to the statistics, online scams in Malaysia caused an economic loss of 1.2 billion Malaysia Ringgit in the first 10 months of 2024. These fraudulent activities are not only a stumbling block to national economic development but also lead to more significant social issues.
These scam tactics would not survive in Western countries, which is closely related to their education systems emphasis on general knowledge. In developing countries, victims of scams cover a wide range of demographics, spanning various ages, genders, occupations and education levels. From elderly and retirees to young students, and even with highly educated or professionals, may fall into the scam traps. This phenomenon indicates that merely having an educational background or professional skills does not ensure the ability to identify false information. Victims often fall into traps due to a lack of vigilance and the ability to distinguish between real and fake information.
One of the primary reasons for this issue is that most Asian have misconceptions about how information is obtained. Taking Malaysia as an example, many do not fully recognize the importance of traditional media. A newspaper requires significant resources, effort to verify, and report accurate news and information, which the work and value behind it far exceed its price. However, with the rise of the internet, the speed of information dissemination has dramatically increased. Most people are now more relying instant online information to satisfy their needs, rather than taking time to thoroughly read and verify the authenticity of news. This passive way of acquiring information leaves many people with insufficient judgement to distinguish between true and fake news, ultimately falling into the traps of fraudsters.
Online media must strictly adhere to professional ethics and avoid spreading of unverified information. It is the media’s responsibility to verify the authenticity of news and should not prioritize the traffic over the public’s right to access to accurate information. At the same time, as citizens, we have a responsibility to verify the authenticity of information and work on should improving our critical thinking skills.
To effectively prevent scams, it is essential to develop the ability to discern and think critically. People need to cultivate a questioning mindset, refuse to blindly trust information that seems credible and actively verifying the sources and content of information.
In the data explosion era, the act of receiving information is not going to be enough, instead, we shall own up the ability to verify the authenticity of the information. The self-protection awareness is crucial as when receiving the tempting investment opportunities or price notifications, one shall take proactive action to verify the authenticity with relevant authorities. For example, the Malaysia’s National Scam Response Center (NSRC) is an organization dedicated to provide scam prevention and consultation services for the public where you can seek assistance if any doubts on the authenticity of information. In many cases, scams occur not due to the lack of education among the victims, but rather because they lack of necessary skepticism and critical thinking skills to assess the situation.
It is noteworthy that the Malaysia government has been proactive in implementing protective measures. For example, the “Semak Mule” website enables citizens to verify the scam information to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes. Meanwhile, The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) dedicated significant resources in combating fraud, focusing on enhancing online surveillance, dismantling criminal syndicates, and investigating scam cases. In recent years, Malaysian police have successfully solved several major scam cases, effectively combating online scams.
The fraud phenomenon in Malaysia highlights several challenges in the flow of information within the society, particularly public’s vulnerability in acquiring and discerning accurate information. To address this problem, we must advocate the principle of “lifelong learning” and continually enhance the general knowledge.
Doing so not only helps individuals to avoid falling victim to scams but also strengthens the overall spirit of families, communities, and the nation as a whole. As Malaysia strives towards becoming a developed nation, we cannot afford to be seen as easily deceived or vulnerable.
In conclusion, enhancing general knowledge not only serves as a safeguard against scam but also strengthens the spirit of families, communities, and the nation. If every citizen embraces a strong sense of purpose responsibility, I’m confident that Malaysia will achieve developed nation status within the next decade.
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