In a written parliamentary reply, he said this was done via its diplomatic channels overseas with the help of local authorities and the Malaysian police.

“Eight people are currently in the process of returning home, while 236 others are still being tracked down.

“This brings the total number of Malaysians involved to 994 people,” Saifuddin said, adding that the figure was based on reports from the victims’ next of kin, friends, police or the victims themselves.

Saifuddin said this in reply to Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) who had asked about the steps involved in saving Malaysians forced into job scams overseas.

The minister explained that his ministry acts on reports received by contacting the local authorities in the countries involved via Malaysian diplomatic missions.

“If their locations are determined, a consular officer will work with the local authorities to ease the process of rescuing them from the syndicates and manage their return to Malaysia.

“The consular officer will also help issue travel documents and channel money from the victims’ next of kin to buy their flight tickets home to Malaysia,” he said.

Saifuddin said upon the victims’ return to Malaysia, police would take their statements to aid investigations and determine the nature of their involvement in the syndicates.

He said strict legal action would be taken if there was concrete evidence that the victims were in fact syndicate recruiters. This includes action under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which provides for up to 30 years’ imprisonment.

In a separate reply to Khlir Nor (PN-Ketereh), Saifuddin said as of Feb 25, his ministry had rescued 126 Malaysians from job scam syndicates in Laos and brought them home.

“Four people are in the process of being sent home, while 48 others are being tracked down, bringing the total number of Malaysians involved with job scam syndicates in Laos to 178,” he said.