KUCHING: A 60-year-old mother is living every parent’s worst nightmare after her son and daughter have gone missing overseas in what is believed to be a scam operation.
Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen revealed that the siblings, aged 30 and 41, were last seen in Thailand.
He added that the mother, Mdm Chong, has filed a police report for further investigation and actions into the whereabouts of her children.
“Mdm Chong’s son travelled to Thailand with two friends in early August for a job opportunity.
“However, he was reportedly ditched by the friends and later taken to Myanmar to work for a scam organisation. He is now unable to return home.
“As for Mdm Chong’s daughter, she went to Thailand at the end of August to search for her brother. She also met with her brother’s friends there, but there has been no communication from her since,” he told a press conference, here this morning.
In the police report, Mdm Chong also provided details about her son’s friends, who are both from Kuching.
The Stampin MP urged authorities to expedite their investigation and work towards bringing the siblings home safely.
“We will continue to pursue this with the police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Malaysian Consulates in Thailand and Myanmar,” he said.
In light of this, Chong also urged the public, particularly the youth, to exercise caution when seeking employment overseas, and not be overly adventurous or fall for promises of high-paying jobs.
“Mdm Chong’s son was promised a reasonable salary, yet it was a scam. Now, he is trapped in a situation where he must engage in illegal activities to avoid punishment,” he said.
He also called on the government to take more proactive and urgent action, not just in this case, but for all cases involving job scams and human trafficking.
“This is not only about the safety of our youth, like Mdm Chong’s son and daughter, but it has broader implications for the country.
“A few years ago, Malaysia was ranked in Tier 3 by the US Trafficking in Persons Report, the worst category. We have since improved to Tier 2 on the watchlist, but the situation remains critical.
“If we slip back to Tier 3, it could affect our economy, as certain products from Malaysia may be barred from entering the United States and European markets,” he said.
Chong said if Malaysia drops again in the human trafficking index, the economic ramifications will follow, adding that the government must treat these cases with urgency, not only for the people’s safety but for the country’s economy.
