KUCHING: Sentosa State Assemblyman, Wilfred Yap urged stronger coordination among the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Immigration Department, Labour Department, and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the digital networks that enable human trafficking and labour exploitation.
Yap expressed concern over the increasing number of Sarawak youths falling prey to deceptive job and study offers, describing such schemes as a modern form of human trafficking and exploitation.
He cited a recent case revealed by the Malaysian Tribunal for Consumer Protection Movement (MTPN) Sarawak, where a young victim was deceived, coerced, and threatened into making payments under duress, exposed weaknesses in preventive enforcement and highlighted the urgent need for stronger and more proactive action by the authorities.
“MCMC must intensify monitoring of online scam advertisements and block fake recruitment sites immediately, while enforcement agencies must treat deceptive job recruitment as a form of trafficking and not just ordinary fraud. We need a coordinated and proactive front,” Yap said.
“What normally began as a so-called job and study offer turned into coercion, intimidation, and extortion. This is not just a scam but human trafficking in disguise. Our young people are being treated as commodities by syndicates that exploit their hopes for a better future,” Yap said.
Yap pointed out that most of these crimes now originate online, with syndicates using social media, fake recruitment websites, and messaging apps to lure unsuspecting victims.
“Online platforms have become the new hunting ground for syndicates who prey on vulnerable youths. It is therefore critical for government authorities to act early, at the point of digital recruitment,” he said.
Yap said government authorities are being reactive rather than proactive in tackling the problem.
“Too often, enforcement only happens after victims are trapped or money has been lost. Prevention must come first through digital monitoring, public education, and early intervention. By the time a report is made or the case is highlighted by the media, the damage is already done,” he said.
He also called on the Ministry of Human Resources and Ministry of Education to strengthen public awareness and digital literacy programmes, especially for school leavers, job seekers, and parents.
“Our youths must be educated about the risks of online job offers that sound too good to be true. Many victims are not greedy, they are simply hopeful for a better future. It is our duty to protect their hopes and ensure they are not exploited. Government authorities must protect our people before they become victims, not after they have been scammed,” Yap said.
By Connie Chieng