TWO local employment agencies were found to be involved in duping Malaysians into accepting offers from job scam syndicates abroad. 

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said following enforcement by police, eight individuals from the two companies were arrested. 

“To date, as far as I know from police briefings, two employment agencies in the country have been raided and eight individuals from these companies have been arrested,” he said during the minister’s question time in Dewan Rakyat today.

He was replying to a supplementary question by Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru-PH) on actions taken by the government against recruitment agents and companies involved in job scam syndicates.

Saifuddin added that the two companies were based in the Klang Valley and all eight were arrested under section 13 of the Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrant (Atipsom) Act.

Meanwhile, in the Dewan Rakyat, Saifuddin said based on police profiling, many of those rescued were genuinely attracted by the overseas “job offers” before they realised they had been deceived and were forced to become “love” and investment scammers. 

The second category involved those who were already successfully working as scammers but after falling short of their employers’ targets, called the authorities for help, he said. 

“We also found some who went abroad for gambling activities and ended up borrowing from loan sharks. They would then call the police and claim they were victims. However, we also brought them back because we really want to stick to our principles of giving them the right to return. 

“The final category is those after being rescued go back there again. It can be devastating for the police to find out the people whom they had earlier saved are asking to be rescued again. These are not tales, but facts,” he added.

Replying to Sim’s original question on how many Malaysians were involved in overseas job scams and had been rescued, Saifuddin said an estimated 218 out of 339 individuals have been brought home. Another 121 were stranded. 

To a supplementary question from Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu-PN) on measures taken by the government to tackle cybercrimes, Saifuddin Nasution said a bill will be introduced in parliament in July. 

“Legislation is important as these are complex, sophisticated and dynamic types of crimes, in which existing laws are not strong enough to curb them,” he added. – Bernama, February 16, 2023.