PETALING JAYA: An MP has called on Putrajaya to temporarily bar Malaysians from being recruited to work in Cambodia until job scam syndicates there have been busted.
While applauding the authorities for rescuing 261 Malaysian job scam victims from Cambodia so far, Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim said it was unclear how many citizens were actually being held by syndicates there.
He said there were some who claimed that the actual number were in the thousands, adding that they were essentially victims of human trafficking.
“The lives of Malaysians shouldn’t be gambled with if the Cambodian government isn’t capable of guaranteeing the protection and safety of our people when they’re there,” he said in calling for the moratorium.
In a statement, Sim also said there should be a special mechanism for reporting such cases involving various agencies to ensure the safe return of victims and support for their family members.
The DAP organising secretary urged the police to take action against local agents involved in scamming victims, and advertisers who publicised the fake jobs.
He said authorities throughout Southeast Asia needed to take drastic action to tackle the issue, with the region earning a reputation as a human trafficking hotpsot.
There should be stricter enforcement and worker protection policies, he said, failing which the region would see a downturn in business and investments.
“Malaysia must take the lead at the Asean level in establishing regional cooperation to wage war against human trafficking,” he said.
On Friday, Bukit Aman said there were still 174 Malaysian job scam victims stranded in foreign countries. It said 224 reports had been filed with the police since last year involving 284 victims.
Some 110 victims have been rescued and brought back to Malaysia, according to the police. - FMT
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