Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: A total of 31 Malaysians who fell victim to job scam syndicates in Myawaddy, Myanmar, were safely repatriated and arrived at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Kedah on Saturday evening.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the group arrived at the ICQS Complex at about 6.50 pm and were subsequently handed over to the Royal Malaysia Police to assist with further investigations.
The repatriation was successfully facilitated through the Malaysian embassies in Bangkok and Yangon.
“This repatriation forms part of the ministry’s continued efforts to safeguard the welfare of Malaysians abroad, particularly those who have fallen victim to job and online scam syndicates,” the statement read.
The ministry said the operation was made possible through close cooperation among the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Immigration Department of Malaysia, the Malaysian Border Security Agency (AKPS), the embassies of Malaysia in Bangkok and Yangon, and the Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla.
The Foreign Ministry also expressed its appreciation to the Government of Thailand and the authorities in Myanmar for their strong cooperation in facilitating and expediting the safe return of the 31 Malaysian nationals.
The Malaysians were among several foreign nationals rescued by Myanmar authorities during recent operations to combat online scam activities in the Myawaddy area. Their identities were earlier verified by officials from the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok during a repatriation exercise conducted in early December.
“Their return could not be facilitated immediately as they were subject to local immigration laws for illegal entry. However, through the efforts and negotiations of the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok and the assistance of Tak immigration authorities, the group was released under Thailand’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM) on Dec 19,” the statement said.
Following their release, the ministry said the group was received by officials from the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok and repatriated overland to Malaysia via Bukit Kayu Hitam.
“Comprehensive consular assistance was provided, including notification of family members, issuance of temporary travel documents, logistical arrangements, provision of essential supplies, and accompaniment throughout the 26-hour journey from Mae Sot, Tak Province, to Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah,” it added.
The Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Malaysian nationals abroad and, through its diplomatic missions, will continue to provide consular assistance whenever required.
–Bernama
#Kw Malaysia, Myanmar, job scams, syndicates, repatriation, Bukit Kayu Hitam, Foreign Ministry
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