Azalina, who is Pengerang MP, said she contacted Wisma Putra immediately and called the Cambodian ambassador for help, Bernama reported.

She said the two victims were lucky they were able to return home within a week.

“We cannot take this matter lightly. Even though we love our children, we have to reprimand them.

“They were lucky … otherwise they would have been jailed for six months,” she said.

The two, from Felda Air Tawar 4, were promised employment with a monthly salary of RM4,000.

Both victims were initially offered employment at a casino but were later forced to become scammers, working 18 hours daily without pay, from 7am to 1am.

The duo were among eight Malaysians detained by the Cambodian immigration since September after their workplace in Sihanoukville was raided.

Nurazlin Zulkifli, 28, said she left for Cambodia on April 18 while her friend, Sofi Khairul Fadzilah, 33, arrived one week later.

“After my friend came, we began work the next day. We quickly realised we had been deceived and were forced to work as scammers targeting people in Malaysia.

“Initially, we were treated well but were not paid. When we asked to return to Malaysia they wanted us to pay RM30,000 (in compensation).

“Our workplace was later raided and all of us, including Malaysians from Sarawak, were arrested by the Cambodian immigration,” she said at a media conference with Azalina at a hotel in Bandar Penawar, Kota Tinggi, today.

Sofi’s father, Khairul Fadzilah Awang, 53, appealed to youths to be careful and not be easily influenced by the offer of attractive wages abroad.

“Think first and, most importantly, listen to your parents before making the decision. The experience of my son is a lesson to us all.”