Malaysia Raids Shuttered 'Resort' Near Kuantan, Arrests 98 in Scam Bust

PHNOM PENH — Oct. 7, 2026: A property disguised as a "resort" was raided by Malaysian immigration authorities after investigators found scammers had turned an abandoned hotel building into a call centre near Kuantan.

The Oct. 5 raid in Sungai Lembing followed nearly a month of surveillance, according to The Star. Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said 95 foreigners were arrested, including 84 Chinese nationals and one Russian woman, along with a local man believed to be the premises owner and two other local workers — 98 people in total, aged 20 to 75.

"We believe that the group has been active here for around three months. We also believe that this syndicate had been moving around from country to country," Zakaria said.


Behind the "resort" facade, the operation ran "off the grid," using generators for electricity and Starlink devices for internet, with food cooked by a designated cook among the group. The syndicate paid around RM30,000 a month in rent.

Seized employment contracts showed workers earning about RM3,000 per month with commissions for meeting targets, and penalties for failing quotas. Investigators also seized passports, including 49 Chinese passports and one from Cambodia. Some suspects had overstayed, while others entered without documents, Zakaria said.

"The department remains committed in conducting strict enforcement actions to combat any illegal activity in the country to preserve its security and sovereignty," he said.

Source: The Star


Reported by The Khmer Daily Network