By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 7: What was supposed to be an overseas trip has turned into a nightmare for the family of ‘Mr Lai’, a Sarawakian oil palm plantation worker who has gone silent in Taiwan after reportedly being detained for suspected involvement in a scam operation.
In a statement, Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) Michael Kong Feng Nian said that on Dec 4, 2025, Lai left Kuching and informed his wife that he would be travelling to Taiwan with a friend known to him as ‘Ah Huat’.
Upon his arrival, Lai contacted his wife and assured her that he was safe, adding that he would be returning to Malaysia by Dec 28, 2025.
However, on Dec 15, 2025, Lai called his wife again to say that he was facing some difficulties in Taiwan, but did not elaborate further. From that point onwards, all communication ceased, and his wife has been unable to reach him despite repeated attempts.
It was only on Dec 24, 2025, that the family received troubling information through an acquaintance of Lai’s brother—they were told that Lai was being held at the Taichung Detention Centre, on suspicion of involvement in a scam operation.
“Unfortunately, no further details were available, and the family has since been left completely in the dark as to Mr Lai’s exact situation.
“Understandably, his wife and family are deeply distressed. They approached me for assistance as they have exhausted all avenues on their own in finding answers regarding Mr Lai’s current situation,” said Kong, who is also the special assistant to Sarawak DAP chairman, Chong Chieng Jen.
Kong said he will seek the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ assistance to liaise with their counterparts in Taiwan to ascertain Lai’s status and ensure that his rights and welfare are properly safeguarded.
At the same time, he said that this case serves as a warning and timely reminder to all Malaysians to remain vigilant and prudent in an increasingly dangerous landscape of cross-border scams and exploitation.
“In recent years, we have seen a worrying rise in cases where Malaysians are lured overseas with promises of work or travel, only to find themselves trapped, or even forced into illegal activities such as scam operations.
“I urge members of the public to exercise extreme caution when travelling abroad, especially when trips are arranged informally or when details of travel arrangements are vague. Always verify beforehand and ensure that family members are fully informed of travel plans,” he said. — DayakDaily
