KUALA LUMPUR: As of today, 331 out of 470 victims of job scam syndicates have been rescued since September 2021, the Dewan Negara was told.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said the remaining 139 victims were still stranded in foreign countries.
These figures were based on the 362 cases reported to the police during this period.
Saifuddin said various comprehensive measures had been taken by the government to address the problem of job scam syndicates abroad.
"We have the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Council (Mapo), under the Home Ministry, which includes 22 ministries, agencies, and non-governmental organisations.
"The efforts extend to engaging with countries where victims were often located, namely Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.
"The authorities have also been diligently identifying syndicates and ensuring thorough investigations are conducted for each rescue operation.
"Additionally, further efforts to enhance public awareness and continuous engagement with the relevant stakeholders are also carried out," he said, in response to a question from Senator Rita Sarimah Anak Patrick Insol.
She asked about the latest statistics on the number of victims of job syndicates and the government's plans to deal with the problem more efficiently and effectively.
Saifuddin said there were four categories of job syndicate victims identified through police profiling.
"First, those who knew the risks of scam operations but were enticed by high salary prospects.
"Second, individuals who went abroad for gambling became stranded due to debt and claimed to be job scam victims. Yet, we bring them home, based on the principle of the right of return.
"Third, rescued individuals who refused to cooperate with the authorities.
"Four, they were victims and we managed to bring them home, but then they left (again)," he said, adding that most victims originated from Selangor, Johor, and Sarawak.
Addressing a supplementary question also from Rita on preventive measures at the country's exit points, Saifuddin replied; "The Home Ministry, through Mapo, is collaborating with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to set up counters and digital electronic displays at exit points, serving as a final reminder to Malaysians about the risks of job syndicates abroad.
"Of course, continuous campaigns will be conducted to prevent more Malaysians from becoming victims," he said, adding that some of the job syndicate victims included Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and degree holders.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the job scam syndicate would be one of the 10 agendas to be emphasised during the Asean Summit 2025, in which Malaysia assumed the chairmanship of the regional grouping.
"As the chair of the summit, we decided to bring the issue since it has now become a global crisis.
"We (Malaysia) are the ones who proposed for the job scam syndicate to be included in one of the 10 agendas that we will bring during the summit," he said.
He added the victims of the job scam syndicates were previously classified as victims of deception by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
"Now, UNODC has recognised it as the crime of human trafficking. We are not the only ones who see this as a crisis, but also at the regional and global level."
