Illegal Organization 'Recruits Little Brothers' as Cover, Sells New Members Overseas for Scam Operations

Using the guise of 'recruiting little brothers', is it in fact suspected 'selling people by turnover'?

A local illegal organization is accused of luring new members with promises of high-paying jobs, then sending them overseas to be involved in telecommunications scam operations.

Two young men from the same hometown reportedly joined a gang organization last Christmas. Within two months, under the arrangement of the leader, they, together with two others from the same hometown, went overseas for work and were subsequently trapped in a scam compound near Cambodia, contacting their families for help to return home as soon as possible.

Malaysian International Humanitarian Organization (MHO) Secretary-General Dato' Hisham held a press conference on Tuesday, accompanying Ahmad (52) and Fiza (44), the two people seeking help, to reveal this case, which is suspected to involve transnational human trafficking.

According to the families from Pontian, Johor, Ahmad's 23-year-old only son originally helped at the night market, while Fiza's 24-year-old eldest son was in the bird-rearing industry. Both went to Ulu Tiram for a so-called 'party' before Christmas last year, only to later find out it was actually an initiation event for a certain illegal organization.

The families indicated that they were individually told their sons would be going to Singapore for high-paying jobs, but in reality, after their children stayed in Ulu Tiram for a while, they left the country in early February this year, traveling via Thailand and ending up in Veal Veng, near the Cambodia-Thailand border.

The two subsequently contacted their families, stating that 'they want to come home but cannot leave,' and pointed out that the actual work was nothing like what was promised, with their circumstances being very difficult.

Ahmad said that he only understood the situation after his child called home for help, and he reported to the police on March 2; Fiza said that her eldest son took selfies with others from their hometown before leaving in early February, and only admitted on February 10 that he was in Cambodia. Unable to adapt to the working environment, he asked her for help; she reported to the police on February 13.

Hisham pointed out that similar cases may involve organized transnational criminal networks, with these groups being accused of long-term recruitment of youths around Johor under the guise of 'high-paying jobs'.

He called on the police to strengthen monitoring and, in accordance with the law, investigate the organization leader known as "Mr A".

"We also hope the Malaysian Embassy in Cambodia and local law enforcement will get involved to assist the victims to return home as soon as possible, and clarify the full course of events."