KUALA LUMPUR: A man has been left permanently disabled after falling victim to a job scam two years ago.
According a China Press report, 28-year-old Yiu Shu Han was deceived into travelling to the Philippines, where he was forced into slavery and subjected to prolonged abuse and torture by syndicate members. This ordeal has left him permanently disabled, unable to bend his limbs or walk properly.
After seeking help from the Foreign Ministry and law enforcement agencies, Yiu was eventually rescued and safely returned to Malaysia.
In a video released by the Foreign Ministry, the Sarawak native shared his harrowing experience of being sold into forced labour two years ago. Using his disabilities as a cautionary example, he urged Malaysians to avoid taking risks with dubious job offers.
He revealed that in April 2022, he was tricked into travelling to the Philippines and coerced into working for a scam operation. Upon realising that the job description did not match the actual work, he refused to cooperate with the syndicate. This refusal led to him being locked in a small room, where he was subjected to prolonged abuse and mistreatment.
"I hope to take this opportunity to tell all Malaysians not to trust online job offers easily because many of them are scams. If you're lucky, you might return home. Otherwise, you could lose your life in a foreign land," he said.
Before travelling to the Philippines, Yiu could walk like a normal person. However, the abuse he endured has left him unable to walk properly, and his hands are now incapable of bending freely. Scars can be seen on his wrists from being tightly handcuffed.
"This is a lifelong disability I will carry. I hope that after hearing my story, no one will ever believe in any high-paying job advertisements again," he said.
He expressed heartfelt gratitude to his father and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan for facilitating his rescue and safe return.