A TOTAL of 518 victims of employment scams abroad have been brought home safely, Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamad Alamin said today.

He said this was the total number of individuals rescued as of November 3 out of the 704 victims registered with the ministry.

“Once the victims return, their statements are recorded by the police to assist with investigations,” Mohamad said in parliament today, adding that the remaining 186 people are still being traced.

He said the ministry was also working at identifying 26 other victims involved in a job scam syndicate in Myanmar.

“We are waiting for the green light from Myanmar authorities to allow us to visit and discuss the matter there,” he said.

Mohamad said media reports suggested there were more than 2,000 job scam victims involving Malaysians.

He urged feedback and information on those cases from all parties concerned so the relevant authorities can act on them.

“Many media claim that there are more than that, with some saying up to 2,000 people. 

“Perhaps these are those who have not been registered. So we would like to ask for the cooperation of all parties, if there is information, give it to us to track and bring the victims home,” Mohamad said.

The Kimanis lawmaker was answering a question from Oscar Ling Chai Yew (Sibu-PH) who asked what methods the government will take to increase public awareness to avoid employment fraud in Cambodia and Myanmar.

Mohamad also said the Foreign Ministry, through the Malaysian embassy in Yangon, Myanmar, and with the cooperation of Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and China, is coordinating and using all alternatives to bring home the 26 victims of the syndicate. 

He said the ministry has set up a special committee comprising all related agencies to tackle and resolve the job scam syndicates. 

“The ministry also uses joint ventures between Malaysian diplomatic representations abroad and local authorities to locate, rescue and provide consular assistance to victims, such as facilitating the documentation process as well as the issuance of emergency certificates. 

“It is to enable them to return home safely,” he said. – November 8, 2023.