A 27-year-old Malaysian man, Sulaiman, is risking his life by secretly contacting his family while being held captive by a human trafficking syndicate in Cambodia. He was lured to the country under the pretense of a job and forced into a cybercrime operation.
Sulaiman’s sister, Samsiyah, 30, revealed that he occasionally manages to call home while pretending to be a scammer, slipping in brief updates about his situation. “He has to be quick because he is constantly monitored. The last time he called, he asked about our mother, who is unwell, but could not disclose his exact location,” she said.
Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim, secretary-general of the Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO), said Sulaiman is believed to be held in Sihanoukville and urged the public to circulate his photo to help locate him. “A rescue plan is already in place, but we need the exact location. Public assistance is crucial,” he said.
Sulaiman is one of two victims currently highlighted by MHO. The second involves a 44-year-old Malaysian man who went missing in Cambodia after travelling there in February 2024 for construction work. He later revealed he was held at a casino and threatened with death if he contacted his family or authorities.
His father, Chong, 68, said his son is the sole provider for his wife and three children. “When he managed to call his mother, he begged us to save him because he could no longer endure the situation. We are desperate and hope the Malaysian authorities can bring him home,” he said.
MHO has appealed to the Malaysian Embassy in Cambodia, the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, and the Cambodian Police Task Force for assistance in the rescue efforts.
