Police confirm case involving man in work permit scam

PETALING JAYA: Police have confirmed that investigations have begun involving an individual who is alleged to have scammed a restaurant owner to obtain work permits for his employees.
Dang Wangi district police chief Mohd. Sukri Kaman told theSun the investigation follows after Pang Yee Wah lodged a police report on Feb 24 that a man, claiming to be with the Malaysian Human Resources Organisation (PSTKM), had promised that the workers will be "protected" from the authorities with the documents.
Pang, who owns a restaurant along Jalan Padang Walter Grenier in Kuala Lumpur, said he had approached a friend for help after finding it difficult to obtain work permits from the Human Resources Ministry.
“I got a headache to obtain permits for the past three years. I approached my friend, who is a lawyer, for help. The lawyer then introduced the man to me. I paid the man RM34,000 to obtain the work permit for 17 workers," Pang told theSun.
Pang said that despite all this, some of his workers were arrested by immigration officers on Feb 17.
“There were 15 who were arrested. Nine of them are my workers, while the remaining six were only renting rooms here. I had to pay about RM100,000 for the compound for their release,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Pang said he obtained E-cards for the remaining eight who were not arrested.
“He (the alleged scammer) still answers my calls but told me that there will be a representative from the organisation who will assist me,” he said.
He was told that when one is a PSTKM member, the organisation will guarantee that among others that the employee can work and stay in Malaysia after applying for the card as the immigration and police recognises the card, and no arrest can be made when possessing it
Meanwhile, PSTKM confirmed that they have no knowledge of the individual nor is he listed with them.
PSTKM secretary-general S. Ganesan said the organisation, which initially was based in Damansara Utama, has remained inactive for some time and “unofficially dissolved because there has not been any annual general meetings conducted”.
“I do not know and have never met the person. There are only seven people in the AJK (committee). There is no office now.
“However, I know that some individuals have used the organisation’s name in the past for their own gain,” he said when asked if the individual was a PSTKM member.
He said that PSTKM, which stands for Pertubuhan Sumber Tenaga Kerja Malaysia, was initially formed to assist employers facing problems with foreign workers.
“However, the direction of the organisation has changed, which is why there are no members,” he said.
A check by theSun with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) shows PSTKM is listed with a handphone number.