By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 12: Seven Malaysians, including five Sarawakians, who were victims of fraudulent job offers, are currently stuck in Cambodia.
The parents of three Sarawakian women, all in their early 20s, sought assistance from Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) chief Milton Foo.
During a press conference today, it was learnt that the three women were allegedly lured to Cambodia with promises of high-paying jobs, only to be forced into cyber fraud activities in the country.
“I contacted the Malaysian Embassy in Cambodia, and an officer confirmed that seven Malaysians—five from Sarawak and two from Johor—are currently stranded there.
“The conditions at both the immigration and removal centres are reportedly poor, with detainees struggling to access necessities like showers, and police allegedly demanding bribes for access to confiscated mobile phones and food,” Foo said during a recorded press conference at SUPP Headquarters.
He emphasised that the Embassy has already issued an appeal to the Cambodian government for the release of the victims, but approval from Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior is still pending.
“I urge the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy to act swiftly to secure the release of these Malaysians, including Sarawakians, from the immigration and removal centres. I will continue liaising with both the Ministry and the Embassy to expedite their return. Additionally, I will ensure that their basic needs are met during their detention, as their safety remains our top priority,” he assured.
The parents of the three Sarawakian women have lodged police reports. The stories are similar: all three were deceived by promises of lucrative employment in Cambodia, only to be caught in a human trafficking scam.
None of the young women informed their families about their journey until they had been in Cambodia for a month. They have been travelling there since May of this year.
One parent, Diana, shared her ordeal, stating that her 22-year-old daughter initially reported everything was going smoothly during the first month. However, payments were delayed for two months, leading her daughter to consider quitting.
“At that point, she was still in contact with me. She mentioned that if she wanted to return, she’d have to pay a RM30,000 penalty.
“Eventually, one of her colleagues contacted the Malaysian Embassy for help, and they arranged for the police to pick them up,” she said.
On September 23, the victims were detained at Cambodia’s immigration centre, where police reportedly demanded bribes for mobile phone access and food. One of the women even paid RM1,500 to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) she found online to help her get back home.
The parents are now pleading for assistance from relevant authorities in Sarawak and Malaysia to bring their children home.
Foo, who has helped bring 29 trafficking victims back to Malaysia since 2022, warned young people to be cautious about job offers promising high pay.
“This is human trafficking. Many victims have no idea what kind of work they’re getting into. For instance, one of the daughters believed she would be working at a casino resort, only to be forced into cybercrime,” he said.
He emphasised the need for vigilance and advised against trusting anyone outside of government authorities when dealing with such matters.
“Always go through proper government channels. Don’t transfer money to individuals, even me. Only deal with government departments and agencies when it comes to payment if needed, and never trust online offers. All these should be done face-to-face and not through social media communication.
“If you’re unsure who to turn to, seek help from any political party in Malaysia. I am committed to doing my best to help,” Foo concluded. — DayakDaily
