PUTRAJAYA: Young Malaysians seeking “lucrative salaries” in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia must be prevented from leaving the country to stop them from becoming victims of human-trafficking syndicates, say NGOs.
Together with some 30 families of human trafficking victims, the NGOS, led by former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, are asking the Prime Minister to put an end to syndicates preying on Malaysians and to save those already stuck in these countries.
The NGOs want Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to step in as they claim that the authorities in those countries are in cahoots with these syndicates.
Musa said Malaysians aged 40 and below should not simply go to these countries.
“We have to take preventive measures by not allowing them to go to these countries – even to Thailand – as they can be kidnapped from there,” he said.
Musa joined the Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation Malaysia (MHO) and Semboyan Malaysia Consumer Association to submit a memorandum to Ismail Sabri at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday.
“It is not just about forced labour. There are also concerns about organ trading and prostitution.
“I have also approached Bukit Aman, which has an Asean desk, to gather information on those behind these syndicates,” he said.
Save our kids: A victim’s family member speaking to the media as Musa (right) looks on. Families gathered in front of Perdana Putra, Putrajaya, to make their plea. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
He also said that the Prime Minister and the government must now intervene by calling Asean leaders on the problems in these countries.
MHO secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim said the syndicates operated differently than others.
“They are protected by authorities in their countries. Malaysians who do manage to escape and seek help from local police are instead brought back to the syndicate leaders and agents. If a police report is lodged, no action is taken.
“We need the Prime Minister to immediately intervene. He needs to use the Asean platform, which has traditionally been used for trading,” he told the media.
Previously, he said they had brought the matter to the Home and Foreign Ministries.
The victims, he said, are forced to work 20 hours a day. They get electrocuted as punishment and cry out for help from their families.
The mother of one of the victims affirmed the claims.
“All the horror stories you have heard from Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia are true,” cried the mother whose son was convinced by a friend to take up a job offer and ended up being held hostage.
“I cannot contain my feelings any more. I hope the Prime Minister can do something to help us and our children.
“Please don’t allow our children to go to these countries,” she told the media.
Another woman, who also declined to be named, told of her son’s ordeal.
She said the 29-year-old, who speaks fluent English, is being used to scam those in America and Canada.
“My son is considered valuable because he can speak English. He has been using the phones used to make scam calls to communicate with us.
“He has been made to work for 20 hours until they meet their target, and if they cannot, they beat him and chain him to the table, so he is only able to use his hands,” she said.
The man had left in July to Bangkok for a job as a translator. Upon landing in Bangkok, he was injected with a substance and kidnapped, the woman said.
She added that something had to be done at the airports in Malaysia as rescue efforts would be futile.
