By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Dec 5: A 22-year-old cook has fallen victim to a job scam and together with over 100 Malaysians, are now forced to abet a scam syndicate operating somewhere along the eastern border of Myanmar.
The victim flew to Bangkok, Thailand on May 7, 2023 after he was promised a job as a restaurant crew member in the country.
However, upon arrival at the airport, he was brought over the border to Myanmar and went through some security check points manned by armed personnel before arriving at his destination.
Since then, he has been coerced into working for the syndicate including scamming people.
To date, he has only received three salary payments with the highest being 20,000 Thai Bhat (RM2,640) and the lowest being 5,000 Thai Bhat (RM660).
After some time, the victim was given the leniency to have access to his mobile phone but at first, he refused to let his family members know about his current situation.
That is not until he reached out to Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) member George Lam for help via WhatsApp on Nov 3, 2023.
“I managed to convince him to give me his parents’ contact number and yesterday morning (Dec 4), I contacted the parents.
“We made a police report regarding this case and we also filed for a similar report to the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“With the reports, we hope the Malaysian Embassy in Myanmar is informed that the victim is currently trapped in that country,” Lam said during a press conference at Sarawak DAP headquarters here today.
Lam said all the parties can do now is to wait for the Ministry and the Embassy to take action in rescuing the victim and others suffering the same fate.
At the same time, Lam reiterated that this group of job scam victims is different than the 121 Malaysians successfully rescued following the civil war happening in the north of Myanmar recently. — DayakDaily
