Malaysia rescues 121 suspected victims of job scams in Myanmar
Hundreds of Malaysians have been rescued from cybercrime and job scam networks across Southeast Asia in recent years
01 December 2023 - 14:11
byRozanna Latiff
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
This picture shows an aerial view of migrant workers harvesting chillies in Cameron Highlands in Malaysia's Pahang state. File photo: MOHD RASFAN/AFP
Kuala Lumpur — A total of 121 people, mostly Malaysians suspected of being victims of job scams, were evacuated from Myanmar on Friday after being stranded by fighting between the military and rebel groups in the country's north, Malaysia’s foreign ministry said.
The group, which included an Indonesian national, arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 3.24am local time through a specially arranged flight from Kunming, China, the ministry said in a statement.
The evacuation mission was carried out through the Myanmar-China border starting Thursday morning with the co-operation and approval of the countries involved, the ministry said.
The mission came amid continuous fighting in northern Myanmar after an alliance of armed ethnic groups launched an offensive in late October. The groups have seized control of several towns and military outposts near the country's border with China, disrupting trade.
Malaysia’s deputy foreign minister, Mohamad Alamin, said the rescued group were among 128 people stranded in Laukkaing, a town in Myanmar’s northern Shan state, state news agency Bernama reported on Friday.
Malaysia’s government will monitor developments and is ready to evacuate the remaining seven people who were unable to be rescued, Bernama quoted Mohamad as saying.
Hundreds of Malaysians have been rescued from cybercrime and job scam networks across Southeast Asia in recent years. Victims of the rackets say they are lured by promises of high-paying jobs and accommodation benefits, but are often instead forced to live in compounds and defraud online users.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Malaysia rescues 121 suspected victims of job scams in Myanmar
Hundreds of Malaysians have been rescued from cybercrime and job scam networks across Southeast Asia in recent years
Kuala Lumpur — A total of 121 people, mostly Malaysians suspected of being victims of job scams, were evacuated from Myanmar on Friday after being stranded by fighting between the military and rebel groups in the country's north, Malaysia’s foreign ministry said.
The group, which included an Indonesian national, arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 3.24am local time through a specially arranged flight from Kunming, China, the ministry said in a statement.
The evacuation mission was carried out through the Myanmar-China border starting Thursday morning with the co-operation and approval of the countries involved, the ministry said.
The mission came amid continuous fighting in northern Myanmar after an alliance of armed ethnic groups launched an offensive in late October. The groups have seized control of several towns and military outposts near the country's border with China, disrupting trade.
Malaysia’s deputy foreign minister, Mohamad Alamin, said the rescued group were among 128 people stranded in Laukkaing, a town in Myanmar’s northern Shan state, state news agency Bernama reported on Friday.
Malaysia’s government will monitor developments and is ready to evacuate the remaining seven people who were unable to be rescued, Bernama quoted Mohamad as saying.
Hundreds of Malaysians have been rescued from cybercrime and job scam networks across Southeast Asia in recent years. Victims of the rackets say they are lured by promises of high-paying jobs and accommodation benefits, but are often instead forced to live in compounds and defraud online users.
Reuters
Rescued workers tell of walks and yoga to keep up morale during ordeal
Cambodia scraps coal power project
Imran Khan to be tried in jail ‘for his own safety’
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Covid-19 shrinks life expectancy in South Korea for first time since 1970
Beijing attempts to sway Taiwan politicians before poll
China’s factory activity contracts for a second month in November
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.