Sarawak man missing in Taiwan, family fears detention over scam allegation

KUCHING (Feb 7): A local man who travelled to Taiwan in December last year in search of better job prospects has allegedly lost contact with his family, said Michael Kong.

The special assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen said the man, identified only as Lai, informed his wife that he would be travelling to Taiwan with a friend known as “Ah Huat” on Dec 4.

Kong said Lai, who is in his early 40s, checked in with his wife upon arriving in Taiwan.

“Lai, who has been working at an oil palm plantation, assured his wife that he was safe. He also told her that he would be returning to Malaysia by Dec 28 last year.

“However, on Dec 15, Lai called his wife again to say that he was facing some difficulties in Taiwan, but did not elaborate. Since then, all communication ceased, and his wife has been unable to reach him despite several attempts,” he said in a statement on Saturday (Feb 7) following a meeting with Lai’s family members.

Kong said Lai’s family received troubling information from his brother’s acquaintance on Christmas Eve.

The family was told that Lai was being held at the Taichung Detention Centre, on suspicion of being involved in a scam operation.

No further details were available, and the family has since been left in the dark as to Lai’s exact situation, he said.

“His wife and family are deeply distressed. They approached me for assistance as they have exhausted all avenues in finding answers regarding Lai’s current situation.”

Kong said he would seek the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to liaise with its counterparts in Taiwan to ascertain Lai’s status and ensure that his rights and welfare are safeguarded.

He expressed hope that the authorities would act swiftly to assist Lai’s family.

“This case serves as a warning and a timely reminder to all Malaysians to remain vigilant and prudent in an increasingly dangerous landscape of cross-border scams and exploitation.

“In recent years, we have seen a worrying rise in cases where Malaysians are lured overseas with promises of work or travel, only to find themselves trapped, or even forced into illegal activities such as scam operations,” he said.

He called on the public to exercise extreme caution when travelling abroad, especially when trips are arranged informally or travel details are vague.

“Always verify beforehand and ensure that family members are fully informed of travel plans,” he advised.