The two Malaysian men, aged 18 and 24, had been duped into going to Cambodia by phoney job offers as telemarketers. Now, they are being held captive and forced to scam people over the internet, the parents claim.

One of the parents, who only wished to be known as Madam Wong, said her son had called several months ago to tell her that he was in Cambodia.

“He said he was offered a high-paying job as a telemarketer and was taken by several individuals from Penang to Cambodia using illegal routes,” she told a press conference at Wisma MCA today.

“He’s so frightened because the building is locked up and there are gun-toting men guarding the door.”

Wong said her son was now being forced to scam Malaysians online.

She said she was worried about her son’s safety. Wong also said her son feared being “sold” to another syndicate if he failed to perform in his job.

Another parent, who only wished to be identified as Ng, said his son was taken to Cambodia three months ago through illegal routes.

“He called me saying his job was to cheat people through phone calls. If he didn’t perform, they would hit him,” he said.

Ng said he sent a letter to foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah about two weeks ago but had yet to receive a reply from Wisma Putra. He also said he had lodged a police report.

Meanwhile, MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Michael Chong claimed more than 50 Malaysian youths were being held against their will in Cambodia and forced to scam people.

He said he had received calls from more than 10 youths in Cambodia two months ago, begging him for help.

“Many of the parents don’t know their children are in Cambodia. Victims pleaded not to tell their parents because they don’t want their parents to know,” he said.

When contacted, a Wisma Putra spokesman said the ministry and the Malaysian embassy in Cambodia were monitoring the situation and obtaining further details on the cases.