Victims of job scam syndicates are actually allowed to be returned to their loved ones, but only if a certain amount is paid to buy their freedom.
And now, it appears that the people who are tasked to rescue these victims may be using this same tactic too?
Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim took to his Facebook page to share how a mother of a job syndicate victim was asked to pay RM5,600 by the Malaysian government to ensure that her child is returned to Malaysia after the victim was brought to the Malaysian embassy in Laos by the local authorities.
He wrote, “She has been waiting for her child’s return for more than a year, and finally they were rescued by the Laos police and taken to the Malaysian embassy. Unfortunately, the Malaysian government asked Puan Ranggama to pay Rm5,600 before her child can be brought home. It is said that this payment is to cover her child’s expenses during the custody period at the Malaysian embassy in Laos.”
Puan Ranggama works as a dishwasher who earns RM50 a day and cannot afford to pay the amount.
“Many victims of job scams come from poor families, which is why they are easily deceived by the promise of a good salary while working abroad. How is Puan Ranggama going to find RM5,600 to pay to the Malaysian government so that her child can safely return to her?”
“Whereas in the anti-trafficking law in Malaysia, the government has a responsibility to protect foreigners who are victims of human trafficking in our country, on top of Malaysians who are victims in foreign countries,” Sim explained.
With that being said, he and Permatang Pauh MP, Nurul Izzah Anwar, decided to step in to help Puan Ranggama and the father of another victim who is experiencing the same thing.
“Today, sister Nurul Izzah Anwar and I shared our personal money of RM8,600 to donate to Puan Ranggama and Mr. Lim, the father of another victim, to enable them to pay the Malaysian government for their children to be sent back to Malaysia from Laos,”
“Mr. Lim, a painter, was able to borrow RM2,600 from friends. The rest, he really can’t find anymore. Izzah and I gave RM5,600 to Puan Ranggama and RM3,000 to Mr. Lim. Hopefully, this small donation can ease their burdens,” he added.
Sim emphasised that, if Parliament is not dissolved, he will raise this issue in Dewan Rakyat
“This is an inhumane policy. The government should send these victims home immediately, instead of asking for an unreasonable payment like this! These are victims of human trafficking, who are not lost tourists!”
As Sim mentioned, these victims often times come from less fortunate backgrounds. The government shouldn’t be hassling their loved ones for money when they are already worries sick.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Also read: Job Syndicate Gangsters Are Offering Up To RM650k To Return Escaped Victims, Dead Or Alive
