Save our children: PM urged to use Asean platform to end human trafficking syndicates – The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been urged to use the Asean platform to stop the ongoing human trafficking syndicates preying on young Malaysians in countries like Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, urged non-governmental organisations.

Some 30 families with victims of human trafficking are pleading with the Prime Minister to put an end to the ruthless syndicate preying on Malaysians and save the victims that were already stuck in these Asean countries.

The families, with the help of Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation Malaysia (MHO), Malaysia Community Crime Care (MCCC) and Semboyan Malaysia Consumer Association, submitted a memorandum to Ismail Sabri at the Prime Minister's Office, here, on Monday (Sept 19).

MHO secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim said that now was the time for the Prime Minister to intervene at the highest level, which was through Asean in a bid to help victims of these syndicates to come home.

“These syndicates operate differently than others, they are protected by authorities in their respective countries.

“This is because Malaysians who do manage to escape and seek help from the local police, are brought back to the syndicate leaders and agents.

“If a police report is lodged, there is no further action as well.

“We need the Prime Minister to immediately intervene because it cannot be resolved between embassies as they have limited resources and power.

“The Prime Minister needs to use the Asean platform, which has traditionally been used for trading,” he told the press on Monday (Sept 19).

Previously, he said that they had brought the matter to the Home and Foreign ministries to seek the help of Malaysia's embassies in the respective countries.

He also said the government needed to step up in its efforts and not use bureaucracy as an excuse in handling this matter.

These victims were forced to work 20 hours a day without any rest, they got electrocuted and they cried out for help from their families, he added.

Former Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, also MCCC president, urged Malaysians aged 40 years and below not to fall prey to these syndicates and simply go to these countries.

“We have to take preventive measures by not allowing them from going to these countries including to Thailand as they can be kidnapped and trafficked.

“It is not just about forced labour but there are concerns about organ trading and prostitution.

“I have also approached Bukit Aman, which has an Asean desk to gather information about who is behind these syndicates luring our people locally.

“I will also gather information on this and hand it over to the police for further action,” he said.

Musa added that the families would be brought to Bukit Aman to record their statements.

He also said that the Prime Minister and the government must now intervene by calling the Asean leaders about the problems in these countries.

A woman, who declined to be named, came forward to share the horror of what her son has been going through since falling prey to the syndicate.

She said the 29-year-old son who speaks fluent English was being used to scam those in America and Canada.

“My son is considered valuable because he can speak English. He has been using the phone used to make scam calls to communicate with us.

“But he has been made to work for 20 hours until they meet their target, and if they cannot, they beat him and chain him to the table, so that he is only able to use his hands,” she said, adding that he left in July for a job as a translator.

An air ticket was bought for the son to go to Bangkok, Thailand, whereby upon reaching he was injected with something and kidnapped, the woman explained.

She was also informed by her son that more victims were being brought in, as such, something drastic needed to be done at the airport itself as rescuing efforts will be futile with more people falling prey to these syndicates.