BNM to hold awareness activities on fake banknotes

KUCHING: The people need to be aware of fake banknotes to avoid losses. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Kuching Office head, Rosnani Mahamad Zain said although the percentage of fake banknotes is low, the public still need to be aware of it. “This is to avoid being cheated and losing money because the fake banknotes do not have value,” she pointed out.

According to Rosnani, BNM is now intensifying efforts to educate and create awareness on fake banknotes especially among traders. S he said it is important for the people especially traders to be familiar with the security features of our banknotes. Hence, she said BNM would go to the ground to conduct talks and awareness programmes for traders especially at night markets.

“We aim to help traders from being deceived by the receipt of fake money,” she told reporters during a fake banknote awareness campaign held at Metrocity Matang night market near here on Wednesday night. Rosnani said the campaign also involved financial institutions and the police to explain to traders how to identify the security features of banknotes.

“The traders will be taught a simple or specific method that can be used to identify the banknote whether it is fake or original while the police would explain the action to take if there was a transaction involving fake banknotes. “The main step is to lodge a police report because it is an offence to own, use, print or make fake money.

“The level of public awareness to identify fake money in the country is still low,” she said. Hence, she said BNM would intensify efforts and pursue the awareness campaign so that the public understand and realise their responsibility in handling counterfeit money. “Besides the night market traders, BNM is also targeting retailers at wet markets, shopping centres, retail outlets, food courts, school children and the general public,” she said.