This comes after 12 Malaysians returned home today after allegedly being held against their will by criminal syndicates in Cambodia.

Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director Abd Jalil Hassan said police had received 35 reports concerning 45 others suspected of being still held captive abroad.

“We will continue to work with Aseanapol and other authorities to bring them home,” he told reporters at klia2.

Jalil thanked the Cambodian authorities, Aseanapol and the foreign ministry for their assistance in rescuing 16 Malaysians recently.

Only 12 arrived at klia2 this morning as the other four are undergoing quarantine in Cambodia after testing positive for Covid-19.

Jalil said police will record statements from the 12 to find out what happened.

He had announced last week that Cambodian police had rescued the 16 Malaysians, including one woman, on April 5.

He said the 16, aged between 19 and 43, were forced to work as scammers.

Jalil said initial police investigations found they had been deceived by advertisements offering jobs as customer service officers in Cambodia, with travel expenses taken care of.

Upon arrival, their travel documents were seized and they were forced to work as scammers for the syndicates.