FAMILIES APPEAL FOR SONS’ RETURN
The duo had followed a friend to Thailand for work but are feared tied to a job scam gang
THE families of two men, both 20 years old and believed to be victims of job scam syndicates, are appealing to the Malaysian authorities to help bring their sons home.
On July 7, last year, Lim Zi Xin and Teoh Chi Peng, from Sungai Bakap, decided to follow a friend from the same neighbourhood to Thailand for work.
It was believed that the friend had promised them jobs with lucrative salaries.
That was the last time the family saw the duo.
According to Zi Xin’s mother Por Sai Yeong, 49, her son sent her a message on WeChat on April 19 this year and told her that he wanted to return to Malaysia.
She said Zi Xin had told her that he needed to pay close to RM50,000 to be released from the syndicate and several thousand ringgit more to get home.
Por said she became wary of her son’s nature of employment following recent news reports about Malaysians being held hostage by job scam syndicates and decided to seek help.
“I am afraid that my son may have fallen victim to such job scam syndicate. I just want him to return to me safely, but I have no means to do it. My heart aches to see my son in this situation,” she told reporters at the state MCA office here yesterday.
Por recalled how her son had told her that he was going to work in Thailand with his friends on July 6, last year.
“I asked if he was sure about it and he told me not to worry as he is going with his friends.
“When I asked him how he was going overseas without a passport, he told me that the employer would take care of it.
“The next day, a car came to fetch him and that was the last time I saw him,” she said, wiping her tears.
Zi Xin’s father, Lim Soon Peng, 53, said his son did not share the nature of his job despite being asked about it repeatedly.
“He only told me that he was being taken from one place to another (for work) and that the last location he sent me was somewhere in the Golden Triangle.
“He told me he could not reveal much about his work because he was scared of being beaten by the syndicate members,” he said.
The odd job worker said his son first started with an alleged Malaysian employer, where he worked for between 12 and 13 hours a day and was given access to his mobile phone once a week.
About two months ago, the Malaysian employer was believed to have sold his business to his Chinese counterpart.
“Since then, my son told me that he worked for between 16 and 20 hours a day. Although he has his mobile phone, his every move is being monitored by the syndicate members using CCTV.
“I have asked him to send me a message once a day so that I know he is safe,” he added.
Zi Xin is the second of Soon Peng and Por’s five children. He used to work as a waiter here before leaving for Thailand.
Meanwhile, Teoh’s mother T. Ranggama, 62, said she had no information about her son’s whereabouts.
“My son and Zi Xin left (the country) together and that was the last I saw him.
“I last spoke to him on Mother’s Day when he called, but the conversation was brief.
“My son did not want me to worry as I am here alone, so he refrains from telling me things.
“I fear for his safety and just want him to be back home soon,” she said.
Por and Ranggama said they were at their wits’ end and appealed for help from the authorities.
State MCA public service and complaints bureau chief Ooi Teik Liang said he would get in touch with the Home Ministry and the police to help the two families.
“I want to warn all young people not to easily fall for promises of job offers online.
“They must check the authenticity of any online advertisement because many job scam syndicates now opt for this method to lure unsuspecting victims,” he said.