PETALING JAYA: MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong (pic) has called for more funds to be allocated towards combating job scams rather than spending them on assisting victims who were lured into working overseas for these syndicates. Chong highlighted that while warnings regarding job scams have been regularly disseminated to keep people informed about such crimes, these precautions have seemingly been ignored.
Chong emphasized, “It is indeed a good government initiative to develop plans to support victims abroad, but why should it burden the public? Taxpayers’ hard-earned money should not be used to assist victims who have already been repeatedly warned.” He shared these remarks during a recent interview.
Chong’s comments were made in response to the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim regarding an allocation of RM10mil under Kumpulan Wang Amanah Rakyat Malaysia Luar Negeri in Budget 2024. This fund will be dedicated to aiding individuals who have fallen prey to employment fraud syndicates.
Chong suggested that these funds could be put to better use, specifically in operations aimed at identifying and crippling job scam syndicates. He asserted, “If these syndicates cease to exist, there will be no more victims.”
Chong explained that Malaysian embassies in the respective countries currently provide assistance to these victims. He stated, “Arranging funds to repatriate these victims has never been a significant issue. Typically, the embassies contact us, and we work together with the victims’ families to plan and find ways to bring their loved ones home.”
Chong expressed concerns that the allocation, intended to demonstrate care and sympathy for the victims, might convey the wrong message to the public. He worries that individuals may misunderstand and perceive it as an endorsement to take chances with these syndicates due to the availability of government funding for assistance.
Founder of Malaysians Against Rape, Assault and Snatch Thief, Dave Avran, mentioned that in addition to the fund, there will be programs to educate the public about job scams. He stressed the need for the public to stay well-informed regarding the latest tactics employed by scammers and to be equipped with knowledge on how to verify with the pertinent authorities. Avran added that the increased budget for the National Scam Response Center should be allocated towards creating awareness since it is unrealistic to expect scams to be completely eradicated.
Avran further stated that the upcoming launch of the National Fraud Portal for tracking and freezing mule accounts is long overdue. He welcomed any initiatives aimed at expediting the process of returning money to victims.
