GEORGE TOWN: Another job scam victim is finally home after more than three months in a quandary.
Known only as Ah Tai, he said he hoped people would not fall prey to scams which supposedly offered jobs abroad with the promise of big payouts.
“A friend recommended that I work in Thailand. I was lured by the high income.
“I was promised a job in management with a monthly salary of between RM7,000 and RM10,000,” he said.
In a press conference yesterday held by Penang MCA public service and complaints bureau head Ooi Teik Liang, Ah Tai said that he realised he was scammed when he was given a desk job instead.
“We worked from 5pm to 7am every day and if we were not able to achieve the target set, we were punished. We were made to do squats or carry water bottles on our heads,” he said.
Ah Tai said he was only paid 23,000 baht (RM2,945) once throughout his work period there.
He also believed that many Malaysians were still trapped there.
“Some of them want to come home but are not able to as their phones were confiscated.
“We have limited access to others. I was placed in a tightly guarded area and we were forced to call prospective victims from around the world,” said Ah Tai.
Ah Tai came under the care of the Malaysian Embassy in Thailand when his passport was stolen.
After his travel documents were processed, he finally returned home to Nibong Tebal on June 2.
“I am thankful to have regained my freedom and I would like to thank my family, good Samaritans as well as Penang MCA for helping to raise funds for my release,” said Ah Tai, 30.
Ooi said Penang MCA is currently helping two more victims find a safe passage home.
“We hope that the public, especially youths, will be more aware and not be lured by the high salaries promised. We should not be taken by deals that are too good to be true,” said Ooi.
On May 21, two victims – one of whom was Ah Tai – were freed after their families and good Samaritans raised money to secure their release from a scam syndicate in Myanmar.
Ah Tai’s journey home was delayed as his passport had been stolen.
However, the other victim, known only as Ah Yuan, returned home to Penang on May 21.
