KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The Malaysian Foreign Ministry successfully facilitated the repatriation of 20 Malaysians who were involved in online scam syndicates in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
The group arrived safely at the Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS Complex in Kedah at 7.20pm on Dec 10, before being handed over to the Malaysian police to assist in further investigations, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
It said that through coordination between the authorities in Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia, officials from the embassy in Bangkok travelled to Myawaddy via the Mae Sot-Myawaddy Second Friendship Bridge to verify their identities and receive the Malaysians.
"The Malaysians were among several foreign nationals rescued by the Myanmar authorities in recent operations to combat online scam syndicates in the Myawaddy area," it said.
The embassy provided comprehensive consular assistance, including notifying the victims' family members, issuing temporary travel documents, arranging transportation, providing essential supplies such as food and face masks, and accompanying the victims throughout their 26-hour journey from Mae Sot to Bukit Kayu Hitam.
It also said the latest repatriation effort followed earlier operations undertaken to facilitate the return of Malaysians trapped in job scam syndicates abroad.
The success of the latest operation was made possible through strong cooperation between the Home Ministry, police, Immigration Department, Malaysian embassies in Bangkok and Yangon, and the Malaysian Consulate-General in Songkhla, it added.
The ministry also expressed sincere appreciation to the Thai government and authorities in Myanmar for their cooperation in facilitating and expediting the repatriation of the 20 Malaysians. - Bernama
