SIBU: The Malaysian government needs to work together with foreign organisations such as the Global Anti-Scam Organisation (GASO) to rescue Malaysians trapped by fraudulent activities like job scams abroad.
Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek said there were still many cases involving Malaysians, especially school leavers, who were deceived by lucrative offers to work in foreign countries, especially in Cambodia, that promised salaries of RM5,000 to RM10,000 per month.
“I hope that relevant government agencies can cooperate with GASO, a non-governmental organisation from the United States to help save Malaysians who are trapped and forced to do illegal work in Cambodia,” he told reporters after presenting minor rural project (MRP) grants to 21 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations at the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Bukit Assek Service Centre here yesterday (Aug 9).
Chieng also expressed disappointment with GASO’s statement which stated that after Aug 3, the organisation would no longer help refugees or those trapped in job scams in Cambodia.
“We call on GASO to reconsider and hope that the relevant government agencies can cooperate to save trapped Malaysians out of Cambodia.
“GASO has helped a lot and done a good job where they paid for accommodation, transportation costs and so on in an effort to save those people from our country who were trapped,” he said.
In the meantime, Chieng called on associations and NGOs to play a role by disseminating information, especially to school and college graduates about job fraud cases.
School and college graduates, he said, must get information about jobs through relevant agencies and the right channels instead of through social media and friends.
“If possible, don’t get caught up in all this. This is because it is important for us to know that nothing is free in this world,” he warned.
Also present at the MRP presentation ceremony was SUPP Bukit Assek chairman Datuk Chieng Buong Toon.
