The Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) held a peaceful assembly outside the Thai embassy here, joined by about 40 family members of victims who had been allegedly trafficked by the syndicates.

After the assembly, MHO secretary-general Hishamuddin Hashim handed over a letter to Adittha Buakhamsri, the minister counsellor of the embassy, appealing for swift action to be taken to rescue the victims.

“They have been tortured severely, locked in dark rooms and not given food for days. They are being forced to work like slaves.

“The frequent use of Thailand’s borders to traffic Malaysians to Myanmar and Laos needs to be addressed,” Hishamuddin said at a press conference held outside the embassy.

He pointed out that Bangkok cut off the power supply to scam centres in south Myanmar last week and had successfully rescued Chinese actor Wang Xing after being pressured by China.

“If the Thai government can rescue Wang, why not rescue Malaysians still stuck in Myanmar too? We’re here not to provoke but to humbly plead for the Thai government’s assistance.”

Hishamuddin later told FMT that the gathering had helped establish direct communications with the embassy, particularly with Adittha and security affairs minister counsellor Chatchawan Worrakajohnwirat.

He believed this would expedite rescue efforts.

“We are waiting for the letter to be sent to the Thai government, and we will also be escalating the issue to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Asean secretariat,” he said.

Family members of victim’s, who joined the gathering today, said their loved ones travelled to Thailand after being supposedly recruited for high-paying jobs there.

They were later sent to Myanmar with the syndicate demanding their families pay a ransom of up to RM55,000 if they wanted them to be released.