By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 3: Kota Sentosa Assemblyman Wilfred Yap has called out government authorities for their tendency to act only after damage has been done, urging them instead to prioritise prevention through stronger digital monitoring, public education, and early intervention.
“Government authorities must stop being reactive. Too often, enforcement only happens after victims are trapped or money has been lost. Prevention must come first, through digital monitoring, public education, and early intervention. By the time a report is made or a case is highlighted by the media, the damage is already done,” he said in a press statement.
Yap was responding to the growing number of young Sarawakians who have fallen victim to deceptive job and study offers, which he described as “a modern form of human trafficking and exploitation.”
He cited a recent case exposed by the Malaysian Tribunal for Consumer Protection Movement (MTPN) Sarawak, where a young victim was deceived, coerced, and threatened into making payments under duress. The incident, he said, illustrates the failure of preventive enforcement and highlights the urgent need for stronger, coordinated action among relevant authorities.
“What began as a so-called job and study offer turned into coercion, intimidation, and extortion. This is not just a scam but it is human trafficking in disguise. Our young people are being treated as commodities by syndicates that exploit their hopes for a better future,” he cautioned.
Yap further urged the Ministry of Human Resources and the Ministry of Education to strengthen public awareness and digital literacy programmes, especially for school leavers, job seekers, and parents.
“Our youths must be educated about the risks of online job offers that sound too good to be true. Many victims are not greedy but they are simply hopeful for a better future. It is our duty to protect their hopes and ensure they are not exploited. Government authorities must protect our people before they become victims and not after they have been scammed.,” he said.
Yap also called for stronger coordination among the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Immigration Department, Labour Department, and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the digital networks that enable human trafficking and labour exploitation.
“MCMC must intensify monitoring of online scam advertisements and block fake recruitment sites immediately, while enforcement agencies must treat deceptive job recruitment as a form of trafficking and not just ordinary fraud. We need a coordinated and proactive front,” he said. – DayakDaily
