06/06/2026

SATURDAY | JUNE 6, 2026

5

Students from China allegedly cheated in scam

Family of fatal crash victims mull civil suit DUNGUN: The family of four victims killed in a crash at Km27 of Jalan Renggam-Simpang Renggam last Monday is considering filing a civil suit seeking compensation from the individual believed to have caused the crash. Fauziah Abdullah, 59, whose son Mohd Aiman Mohd Rashid, 36, daughter-in-law Nor Azlina Latif, 33, granddaughter Nur Airish Syifa Sidek, 10, and Nor Azlina’s mother Semek Mat Soh, 73 were killed, said the move is aimed at seeking justice. She said she has entrusted matters relating to the claim, including the appointment of a lawyer, to her children. “I am deeply saddened because I not only lost my only granddaughter but also three other family members in the blink of an eye due to another person’s negligence,” she said when met at her home in Taman Setia, Al Muktafi Billah Shah yesterday. Fauziah said her family would take some time to pursue the claim as they are still in shock and grieving over the tragedy. Meanwhile, Nur Airish Syifa’s father, Sidek Abd Hamid, 42, said he has yet to consult lawyers on pursuing a civil suit against those allegedly responsible for the crash. He said he and other family members would meet lawyers in the near future to discuss the matter. “What saddens us most is that the incident is believed to have been caused by illegal street racing.” In the crash, which occurred at about 1pm on June 1, Mohd Aiman and his wife Nor Azlina, along with Nor Azlina’s mother Semek and their niece Nur Airish Syifa, were killed. A 19-year-old youth who was driving a Mercedes-Benz A250 is suspected of driving recklessly and dangerously alongside a BMW 530e driven by his 22-year-old brother, who died while being rushed to the hospital. The crash is believed to have occurred when the elder driver lost control of the car before veering into the opposite lane and colliding with a Perodua Alza, a Toyota Vios, a Proton Wira and another Mercedes-Benz. – Bernama

felt my life was more important. So, I ran away.” Tan added that the same suspect was later linked to other similar cases involving several Chinese nationals in Malaysia, with total losses estimated at around RM40,000. He said he eventually worked with another victim to set a trap and managed to assist in bringing the suspect to Kajang police. Tan said he has, however, not recovered his money or the mobile phone left in the suspect’s vehicle. Association of Malaysian-Chinese Friendship and Mutual Aid secretary-general Datuk Goh Boon Keng said the association has received a growing number of complaints involving unlicensed currency exchange transactions carried out via social media platforms, particularly Xiaohongshu. “We have received many complaints involving similar cases. Most victims are Chinese nationals studying in Malaysia, including undergraduate, master’s and PhD students, who were seeking quick and convenient ways to exchange Chinese yuan into Malaysian ringgit.” Goh said currency exchange activities in Malaysia are strictly regulated and could only be conducted by licensed money changers. “Dealing with individuals offering such services on social media carries a high risk of fraud, with victims often left unable to recover their money.” He also called on police to conduct a thorough investigation and take firm action against those responsible. Also present was MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael T.S. Chong.

o Victims claim to have been duped by fraudster in currency exchange transactions involving popular Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu

KUALA LUMPUR: A Chinese student has alleged that an online scammer not only cheated her in a currency exchange deal but also demanded “special favours” in exchange for returning her money, in a case linked to an alleged money-changer scam targeting Chinese nationals in Malaysia. At a media conference at the MCA headquarters yesterday, the 21-year-old student, identified only as Zhou, said she came across an individual offering currency exchange services on Xiaohongshu, a popular Chinese social media platform, on May 10. She then agreed to exchange 1,564 RMB for RM1,000. However, after transferring the money through WeChat Pay, she claimed the suspect stopped responding to her messages and later demanded an additional RM100 “service fee” which she also paid through Touch ‘n Go, in the hope of recovering her funds. “He replied to me the next day and said his QR code had been blocked. He asked me to transfer another RM100 as a service fee, so I did.” Zhou said the suspect later sent her a screenshot purportedly showing that the Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com KUALA LUMPUR: The public has been advised to exercise caution when dealing with online domestic helper recruitment offers, following reports of a scam syndicate operating through social media platforms. At a media conference held yesterday by MCA Youth, its national deputy chief and Federal Territories Youth chief Mike Y.C. Chong said the syndicate advertised domestic helper services using convincing profiles and supporting documents, while claiming that no deposit was required. He said the syndicate is believed to be active on social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu and Instagram, primarily targeting Chinese users. “At least two victims have come forward after falling prey to the online scam involving domestic helper recruitment, with losses reported of up to RM5,900.” He added that after payments are made, no domestic helper is made available and the suspects subsequently disappear or block all communication. He said payments are directed to personal bank accounts instead of registered company accounts. Chong said they also provide forged documents, including passports, payslips, invoices and customer testimonials to further build credibility. “Instead of a deposit, victims were asked to pay three months’wages upfront, allegedly amounting to about RM6,300 at a ‘discounted’ monthly rate. “One victim said he became suspicious when he was refused a video call with the alleged domestic helper and was pressured to make full payment in advance but later ignored the scammer’s messages.” Chong said MCA would submit complaints to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission for action to block the social media accounts involved.

money had been transferred but she never received the funds. “When I checked, there was no money in my account. I kept asking him about it but he wouldn’t return my money.” She further claimed that the suspect told her that she would need to provide a “special favour” if she wanted her money back. “I thought it was disgusting. I rejected him immediately. I didn’t know this scammer not only wanted to cheat people of their money but also wanted to take advantage of victims in that way.” Zhou lodged a police report and ceased all contact with the suspect. Meanwhile, another victim, identified as Tan, said he was cheated out of 10,000 RMB for RM6,000 after responding to a similar currency exchange offer on Xiaohongshu on April 28. Suspecting he had been scammed, Tan, who met the suspect, claimed that the latter said he needed to retrieve a charger from his vehicle because his phone battery was running low. While waiting beside the suspect’s vehicle, he (the suspect) allegedly attempted to flee. Tan also said the suspect had allegedly used intimidation tactics, including suggesting that he (the suspect) had a knife, which made him fear for his safety. “Even though I wanted my money back, I

MCA Youth warns of online domestic helper recruitment offers

(From left) Tan, MCA Central Youth Committee member and MCA Federal Territories Youth Legal Bureau chief lawyer Victor W.L. Teoh, Chong and the victim, who gave his name only as Dilan.– ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

possibility of illegal entry of workers. He said these issues could compromise household safety and expose employers to legal consequences. Tan urged the government to expedite the process of hiring foreign domestic helpers, as many victims of such scams are those who require immediate assistance and therefore become more vulnerable to fraudulent offers. – BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI

licensed companies, and not to individual bank accounts. “These so-called ‘maid rental’ arrangements or payments made directly to individuals are illegal and may constitute offences under immigration laws, or even human trafficking-related provisions.” Tan also warned that unregulated domestic helper arrangements may expose employers to several risks, including lack of medical screening, absence of background verification and the

Meanwhile, Association of Employment Agencies Malaysia secretary-general Tan Kim Thin stressed that there is no shortcut to legally hiring domestic helpers. He said all recruitment must be conducted through licensed agencies registered under the Labour Department, with the process typically taking between two and four months and costs starting from about RM10,000. “All payments must also be made directly to