{"id":307,"date":"2026-05-25T03:40:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T03:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/asianewscast.com\/2026\/05\/25\/why-indonesia-malaysias-idea-on-tighter-visa-rules-to-counter-foreign-scammers-may-not-be-a-cure-2\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T03:40:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T03:40:21","slug":"why-indonesia-malaysias-idea-on-tighter-visa-rules-to-counter-foreign-scammers-may-not-be-a-cure-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=307","title":{"rendered":"Why Indonesia, Malaysia\u2019s idea on tighter visa rules to counter foreign scammers may not be \u2018a cure\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"layout layout--onecol\">\n<div class=\"layout__region layout__region--content\">\n<section data-title=\"Leaderboard  01 Article\" class=\"block block-ad-entity block-ad-displayleaderboard-01-article clearfix\">\n<div class=\"block-title\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<div id=\"ad-entity-saeR_Mus3mo\" 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class=\"ad-entity-container not-initialized\" data-ad-entity=\"lb01_tablet_ios\" data-ad-entity-type=\"Adobe_Ad_Entity\" data-ad-entity-view=\"mc_adobe_advertisement_provider_default\" data-ad-entity-variant=\"[&quot;tablet-ios&quot;]\" data-ad-entity-targeting=\"{&quot;entitytype&quot;:&quot;node\/article&quot;,&quot;entitylabel&quot;:&quot;Why Indonesia, Malaysia\u2019s idea on tighter visa rules to counter foreign scammers may not be \u2018a cure\u2019&quot;,&quot;entityuuid&quot;:&quot;dd51881b-e32f-46fa-96f2-1aa5af9f859e&quot;}\">\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"layout layout--onecol\">\n<div class=\"layout__region layout__region--content\">\n<section data-title=\"Content Details\" class=\"block block-mc-content-detail block-content-details clearfix article-detail-title-block\">\n<div data-title=\"Content Details\" class=\"content-detail block block-mc-content-detail block-content-details clearfix article-detail-title-block\">\n<p class=\"content-detail__category\">\n<a class=\"link\" href=\"\/asia\"><br \/>\n      Asia<br \/>\n  <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n<h1 class=\"h1 h1--page-title\">\n      Why Indonesia, Malaysia\u2019s idea on tighter visa rules to counter foreign scammers may not be \u2018a cure\u2019<br \/>\n  <\/h1>\n<div class=\"content-detail__description\">\n<p>Indonesia and Malaysia are considering tighter visa and immigration rules to combat criminal networks and scam syndicates that make use of foreigners, but experts caution that there are diplomatic and economic costs to consider.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"layout layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--75-25\">\n<div class=\"layout__region layout__region--first\">\n<section data-title=\"Hero Emphasis\" class=\"block detail-hero-media block-mc-hero-emphasis block-hero-emphasis clearfix\">\n<figure data-title=\"Hero Emphasis\" class=\"figure block detail-hero-media block-mc-hero-emphasis block-hero-emphasis clearfix\" data-img-id=\"\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--b14leSvS--\/c_crop,h_900,w_1600,x_0,y_83\/c_fill,g_auto,h_468,w_830\/fl_relative,g_south_east,l_mediacorp:cna:watermark:2024-04:reuters_1,w_0.1\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2026\/05\/22\/2026-05-10t114459z_1224490183_rc2a6lalgcnq_rtrmadp_3_indonesia-crime-gambling.jpg?itok=6UrI5Sq-\" alt=\"Why Indonesia, Malaysia\u2019s idea on tighter visa rules to counter foreign scammers may not be \u2018a cure\u2019\" title=\"Why Indonesia, Malaysia\u2019s idea on tighter visa rules to counter foreign scammers may not be \u2018a cure\u2019\"><figcaption class=\"figure__caption\">\n<p>Foreign nationals suspected of running an online gambling operation for two months at an office building, walk to be transported after being arrested in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 10, 2026. (Photo: Reuters\/Willy Kurniawan)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section data-title=\"Text to speech\" class=\"block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodearticlefield-text-to-speech clearfix\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"mc-text-to-speech-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"new-feature-wizard\">\n    <span class=\"new-feature-wizard__text\"><br \/>\n        New: You can now listen to articles.<br \/>\n        <span class=\"new-feature-wizard__close\"><\/p>\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/profiles\/custom\/mediacorp\/themes\/mc_core_theme\/images\/close.svg\"><\/p>\n<p>        <\/span><br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"text-to-speech-caption\">\n       This audio is generated by an AI tool.\n    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<div class=\"layout__region layout__region--second\">\n<section data-title=\"Byline\" class=\"block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodearticlefield-author clearfix\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"author-card author-card--author-info-block\">\n<div class=\"author-card__figure\">\n            <a href=\"\/author\/nivell-rayda\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--7Ul9oyP4--\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2022\/11\/23\/cna_nivell_correspondent_500x500.png?itok=hbeo68yb\"><br \/>\n<\/a>\n                  <\/div>\n<div class=\"author-card__content\">\n<div class=\"author-card__body\">\n<div class=\"author-card__author-name\">\n<h6 class=\"h6 h6--author-name\">\n<a class=\"h6__link\" href=\"\/author\/nivell-rayda\"><br \/>\n      Nivell Rayda<br \/>\n  <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-title=\"Content share and bookmark\" class=\"block block-mc-content-share-bookmark block-content-share-bookmark clearfix\">\n<div data-title=\"Content share and bookmark\" class=\"mobile_author_card block block-mc-content-share-bookmark block-content-share-bookmark clearfix\">\n<div class=\"mobile_author_card__image-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"mobile_author_card__image mobile_author_card__image--\">\n<a class=\"link\" href=\"\/author\/nivell-rayda\"><\/p>\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--upcqzQhi--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_100,w_100\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2022\/11\/23\/cna_nivell_correspondent_500x500.png?itok=kk-P8DdP\" alt=\"Nivell Rayda\" title=\"Nivell Rayda\"><\/p>\n<p>                <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mobile_author_card__name\">\n<a class=\"link link--author-profile\" href=\"\/author\/nivell-rayda\"><br \/>\n      Nivell Rayda<br \/>\n  <\/a>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-publish article-publish--\">\n        25 May 2026 06:00AM<br \/>\n                        <span>(Updated: 25 May 2026 09:10AM)<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"js-popup-content 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class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"text-long\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>JAKARTA: Memories of a traumatic past came rushing back when Ahmad received a message from a friend about a police <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/asia\/indonesia-police-arrest-321-foreigners-crackdown-online-gambling-6111341\"><span>raid on an online gambling hub<\/span><\/a><span> in Jakarta on May 7.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The images were hauntingly familiar: hundreds of workers from different nationalities crammed inside a run-down building where they ate, slept and worked under constant surveillance, rarely allowed outside.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>To Ahmad, it looked painfully similar to the scam and gambling compound in Laos where he was held for six months in 2024, forced to<\/span>cheat<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><span>victims online while living under the constant threat of beatings, electrocution and other violence from a ruthless criminal syndicate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>He managed to return to Indonesia only in late 2024 after paying his captors about US$20,000 for his release.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cFor a long time, I thought those criminals only operated in faraway countries,\u201d Ahmad, not his real name, told CNA.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"in-article-games trimmed-content\">\n<div class=\"game-list-header\">CNA Games<\/div>\n<div class=\"game-list\">\n              <a class=\"game-tile\" href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/games\/guess-word\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"game-img\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Guess Word\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--9rksCQgs--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_100,w_100\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2025\/12\/03\/game_icon_-_wordrow_-_light_mode.png?itok=y_y6Lkrj\" alt=\"Guess Word\">\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"game-desc\">\n<div class=\"game-title\">Guess Word<\/div>\n<div class=\"game-abt\">Crack the word, one row at a time<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <\/a><br \/>\n              <a class=\"game-tile\" href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/games\/buzzword\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"game-img\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Buzzword\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--rNELTwDG--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_100,w_100\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2025\/12\/03\/game_icon_-_buzzword_-_light_mode.png?itok=gjNCaVEc\" alt=\"Buzzword\">\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"game-desc\">\n<div class=\"game-title\">Buzzword<\/div>\n<div class=\"game-abt\">Create words using the given letters<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <\/a><br \/>\n              <a class=\"game-tile\" href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/games\/mini-sudoku\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"game-img\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Mini Sudoku\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--cDNZgbXf--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_100,w_100\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2025\/12\/03\/game_icon_-_mini_sudoku_-_light_mode.png?itok=XJMtZA-S\" alt=\"Mini Sudoku\">\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"game-desc\">\n<div class=\"game-title\">Mini Sudoku<\/div>\n<div class=\"game-abt\">Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <\/a><br \/>\n              <a class=\"game-tile\" href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/games\/mini-crossword\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"game-img\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Mini Crossword\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--vQydxQJa--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_100,w_100\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2025\/12\/03\/game_icon_-_mini_crossword_-_light_mode.png?itok=xnGbWUBS\" alt=\"Mini Crossword\">\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"game-desc\">\n<div class=\"game-title\">Mini Crossword<\/div>\n<div class=\"game-abt\">Small grid, big challenge<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <\/a><br \/>\n              <a class=\"game-tile\" href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/games\/word-search\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"game-img\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Word Search\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--lVhq9IJO--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_100,w_100\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2025\/12\/03\/game_icon_-_word_search_-_light_mode.png?itok=J7DBf8e2\" alt=\"Word Search\">\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"game-desc\">\n<div class=\"game-title\">Word Search<\/div>\n<div class=\"game-abt\">Spot as many words as you can<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"in-article-games__full-story-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"in-article-games__full-story-button-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"in-article-games__full-story-button\" href=\";\"><br \/>\n      Show More<br \/>\n  <\/a>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"in-article-games__full-story-button-wrapper\">\n<a class=\"in-article-games__full-story-less-button\" href=\";\"><br \/>\n      Show Less<br \/>\n  <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"referenced-card\">\n<h4 class=\"h4 h4--related-block\">\n<div>Related:<\/div>\n<\/h4>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"media-object\">\n<div class=\"media-object__figure\">\n  <a class=\"link\" href=\"\/asia\/indonesia-cambodia-human-trafficking-online-crimes-syndicates-gambling-4849926\"><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--pX4FsZJt--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_98,w_175\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2025\/01\/13\/img_0213.jpg?itok=eDcoyrcz\"><br \/>\n                <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"media-object__content\">\n<div class=\"media-object__body\">\n<div class=\"list-object\">\n<h6 class=\"h6 list-object__heading\">\n<a class=\"h6__link list-object__heading-link\" href=\"\/asia\/indonesia-cambodia-human-trafficking-online-crimes-syndicates-gambling-4849926\"><br \/>\n      <span>\u2018Armed men and sniffer dogs\u2019: Indonesian forced to work in Cambodian online gambling ring recalls horror ordeal<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"media-object\">\n<div class=\"media-object__figure\">\n  <a class=\"link\" href=\"\/commentary\/scam-centres-victims-southeast-asia-job-love-scams-4961361\"><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--404txXyB--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_98,w_175\/fl_relative,g_south_east,l_mediacorp:cna:watermark:2024-04:reuters_1,w_0.1\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/one-cms\/core\/2025-02-24t091917z_1_lynxnpel1n08i_rtroptp_3_thailand-myanmar.jpg?itok=ueJAooWa\"><br \/>\n                <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"media-object__content\">\n<div class=\"media-object__body\">\n<div class=\"list-object\">\n<h6 class=\"h6 list-object__heading\">\n<a class=\"h6__link list-object__heading-link\" href=\"\/commentary\/scam-centres-victims-southeast-asia-job-love-scams-4961361\"><br \/>\n      <span>Commentary: Scam centres, human trafficking \u2013 Southeast Asian governments can do more for such victims<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"text-long\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>What unsettled the 28-year-old most was where the May 7 raid had taken place: a 20-storey white-and-blue building standing on one of Jakarta\u2019s busiest streets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cI passed that building every day. It\u2019s barely\u00a0<\/span>2km<span> from where I work, where I\u2019m trying to rebuild my life after escaping Laos,\u201d he said, his voice trembling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Analysts say the Jakarta raid was not an isolated incident, but part of what appears to be a broader shift in Southeast Asia\u2019s sprawling cyber scam industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>For years, many of the region\u2019s largest scam and online gambling hubs operated out of loosely governed special economic zones in the border areas of Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, where criminal syndicates were able to build billion-dollar operations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>But as governments in those countries come under mounting international pressure to crack down\u00a0<\/span>on these illegal operations<span>, experts believe some syndicates are beginning to relocate &#8211; or expand &#8211; into other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cThe possibility of Indonesia or Malaysia becoming hotbeds for human trafficking into scam centres is very real,\u201d Matt Friedman, chief executive officer of anti-human trafficking organisation The Mekong Club, told CNA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The concern is increasingly shared by officials in Indonesia and Malaysia, where hundreds of foreigners and locals suspected of being involved in scam and online gambling operations have been arrested since early May.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<section class=\"block block- block--view-mode-default clearfix\">\n<figure class=\"figure block block- block--view-mode-default clearfix\" data-img-id=\"\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--tJfZtYIj--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_468,w_830\/fl_relative,g_south_east,l_mediacorp:cna:watermark:2024-04:reuters_1,w_0.1\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/one-cms\/core\/2026-02-11T084612Z_1_LYNXMPEM1A0E0_RTROPTP_3_CAMBODIA-SCAMS.JPG?itok=wJCX3cPd\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"figure__caption\">\n      A police officer inspects inside a scam compound known as &#8220;My Casino&#8221; used for fraud operations in Kampot province, Cambodia on Feb 10, 2026. (Photo: Reuters\/Soveit Yarn)<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"text-long\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Authorities in both countries believe criminal syndicates have been exploiting lax immigration controls and visa-free travel arrangements among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and are proposing tighter visa and immigration rules.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>&#8220;Cases of foreigners involved in illegal activities, including those coming from countries granted visa-free entry facilities, give rise to (a need for) evaluation of policies,<\/span>\u201d<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><span>Hendarsam Marantoko, director general of the Indonesian Immigration Office told AFP on May 13.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Currently, travellers from all ASEAN countries can stay visa-free in Indonesia for up to 30 days. Chinese and Japanese nationals, meanwhile, must obtain visas on arrival that are valid for 30 days and can be extended once for another 30 days.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Meanwhile,<span> Malaysia\u2019s police chief Mohd Khalid Ismail\u00a0<\/span>said at<span> a press conference on May 15 that Malaysia\u2019s visa policy \u201cmakes it easier for foreign criminals to operate in the country\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>In Malaysia, travellers from all ASEAN countries can stay visa-free for up to 30 days with the exception of Myanmar (14 days).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Meanwhile, Japanese nationals can enter visa-free for up to 90 days while Chinese\u00a0<\/span>citizens\u00a0<span>are allowed visa-free entry for up to 30 days per visit, with a maximum cumulative stay of 90 days within a 180-day period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Thailand, which has also seen a rise in<\/span> the number of\u00a0<span>crimes\u00a0<\/span>involving foreign nationals<span> in recent years, on May 19\u00a0<\/span>announced that it will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/asia\/thailand-visa-free-days-cut-tourism-foreigners-crime-6130246\"><span>reduce visa-free stays<\/span><\/a><span> for travellers from more than 90 countries including Europe&#8217;s 29-nation Schengen area, the United States and several South American countries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow had said that the plan to reduce visa-free stays was part of a crackdown on transnational crime.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The new visa-free duration would be decided on a country-by-country basis,\u00a0<\/span>Thai authorities said,<span> with most foreign nationals granted stays of up to 30 days, while some could receive only 15 days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"referenced-card\">\n<h4 class=\"h4 h4--related-block\">\n<div>Related:<\/div>\n<\/h4>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"media-object\">\n<div class=\"media-object__figure\">\n  <a class=\"link\" href=\"\/singapore\/company-ceo-duped-impersonate-chairman-business-email-scam-police-global-crackdown-frontier-6131831\"><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--Kid_Y7De--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_98,w_175\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2025\/11\/04\/istock-2159010488.jpg?itok=SB1iJ0Z1\" alt=\"\"><br \/>\n                <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"media-object__content\">\n<div class=\"media-object__body\">\n<div class=\"list-object\">\n<h6 class=\"h6 list-object__heading\">\n<a class=\"h6__link list-object__heading-link\" href=\"\/singapore\/company-ceo-duped-impersonate-chairman-business-email-scam-police-global-crackdown-frontier-6131831\"><br \/>\n      <span>CEO duped in US$36 million business email scam as Singapore, 9 jurisdictions conduct major crackdown<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"media-object\">\n<div class=\"media-object__figure\">\n  <a class=\"link\" href=\"\/asia\/southeast-asia-scam-networks-sri-lanka-myanmar-cambodia-china-6126381\"><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--sNvdnNQ7--\/c_crop,h_576,w_1024,x_0,y_60\/c_fill,g_auto,h_98,w_175\/fl_relative,g_south_east,l_mediacorp:cna:watermark:2023-11:afp_watermark_14112023,w_0.1\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2026\/05\/17\/000_b2cl7ar.jpg?itok=VH-0zqyC\" alt=\"\"><br \/>\n                <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"media-object__content\">\n<div class=\"media-object__body\">\n<div class=\"list-object\">\n<h6 class=\"h6 list-object__heading\">\n<a class=\"h6__link list-object__heading-link\" href=\"\/asia\/southeast-asia-scam-networks-sri-lanka-myanmar-cambodia-china-6126381\"><br \/>\n      <span>Crackdown in Southeast Asia pushes scam networks to Sri Lanka<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"text-long\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>But experts warn that tightening visa rules, particularly ASEAN\u2019s long observed visa-free arrangements, could trigger diplomatic and economic backlash.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cWhether or not tightening immigration policies will be effective in preventing such crimes is questionable. These syndicates are highly resourceful and can adapt quickly,\u201d Trubus Rahadiansyah, a public policy expert from Jakarta\u2019s Trisakti University, told CNA.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span>A DETERRENT OR JUST A TEMPORARY SETBACK?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Officials and experts say scam syndicates often rely on foreign recruits who were brought into a country through fake job advertisements promising lucrative positions in customer service, marketing or technology.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Once inside the compounds, many victims find themselves trapped &#8211; their passports confiscated and movements restricted &#8211; before being coerced into carrying out online scams targeting victims around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cThese organisations prefer foreign recruits due to their vulnerability, lack of local ties, and lower likelihood of reporting crimes, which facilitates exploitative practices and minimises risks to the syndicates,\u201d Friedman said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>This explains why relatively few locals have been arrested in many recent raids.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>On May 6, Indonesian authorities\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/asia\/indonesia-batam-online-scam-raid-foreign-nationals-detained-baloi-6109136\"><span>arrested around 200 foreigners<\/span><\/a><span> &#8211; most of them Chinese nationals &#8211; at an apartment complex in Batam allegedly being used for cross-border online scam operations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<section class=\"block block- block--view-mode-default clearfix\">\n<figure class=\"figure block block- block--view-mode-default clearfix\" data-img-id=\"\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--kirYDVxD--\/c_crop,h_601,w_1068,x_4,y_1\/c_fill,g_auto,h_468,w_830\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2026\/05\/08\/bali_view_apartment_.png?itok=wp7RHPDy\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"figure__caption\">\n      Officers from the Batam Immigration Office raid a suspected international scam syndicate operating at Baloi View Apartment in Batam. (Photo: Batam Immigration Office)<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"text-long\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Two days later, police in Surabaya, East Java arrested 37 foreigners from China, four from Japan, along with three Indonesians, over a suspected scam operation run out of a villa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>According to\u00a0the\u00a0police, the group allegedly impersonated law enforcement officers to extort victims.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Foreign nationals also dominated the arrests in Malaysia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Between May 6 and 7, Malaysian authorities detained 127 Chinese nationals, 23 Malaysians, nine Japanese nationals, eight Vietnamese and seven Indonesians during\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/asia\/malaysia-police-transnational-scam-syndicate-visa-policy-6125416\"><span>raids across Klang Valley<\/span><\/a><span> that uncovered alleged scam operations targeting victims both within and outside Southeast Asia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Then on May 14, police in Iskandar Puteri, Johor arrested 35 Chinese nationals suspected of using artificial intelligence tools to conduct job scams targeting victims as far away as Spain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cTightening visa-free policies can reduce human trafficking by limiting the opportunities for syndicates to exploit vulnerable individuals,\u201d Friedman said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cStricter immigration controls may deter traffickers and make it harder for them to operate, ultimately protecting at-risk populations from exploitation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"referenced-card\">\n<h4 class=\"h4 h4--related-block\">\n<div>Related:<\/div>\n<\/h4>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"media-object\">\n<div class=\"media-object__figure\">\n  <a class=\"link\" href=\"\/asia\/scamming-compounds-myanmar-cambodia-thailand-crackdown-crimes-5007171\"><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--xx3XNKJj--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_98,w_175\/fl_relative,g_south_east,l_one-cms:core:watermark:ap_data-1,w_0.1\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/one-cms\/core\/thailand_myanmar_scammers_trapped_52655.jpg?itok=-sxmmv9R\"><br \/>\n                <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"media-object__content\">\n<div class=\"media-object__body\">\n<div class=\"list-object\">\n<h6 class=\"h6 list-object__heading\">\n<a class=\"h6__link list-object__heading-link\" href=\"\/asia\/scamming-compounds-myanmar-cambodia-thailand-crackdown-crimes-5007171\"><br \/>\n      <span>Southeast Asia\u2019s rampant scam industry still morphing, adapting despite Beijing flexing its muscle<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"media-object\">\n<div class=\"media-object__figure\">\n  <a class=\"link\" href=\"\/asia\/indonesia-cybercrime-online-scam-hubs-shift-cambodia-thailand-china-6113141\"><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--RGRD3O1G--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_98,w_175\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2026\/05\/11\/hayam_wuruk_raid_.png?itok=QWW3HSR4\" alt=\"\"><br \/>\n                <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"media-object__content\">\n<div class=\"media-object__body\">\n<div class=\"list-object\">\n<h6 class=\"h6 list-object__heading\">\n<a class=\"h6__link list-object__heading-link\" href=\"\/asia\/indonesia-cybercrime-online-scam-hubs-shift-cambodia-thailand-china-6113141\"><br \/>\n      <span>Indonesia warns of becoming hub for transnational cybercrime networks following Jakarta, Batam raids<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"text-long\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>However, not everyone agrees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cThis could potentially impact innocent travellers and legitimate business and undermine the commitment to free movement within ASEAN states, so it would be a drastic step,\u201d Ivan Franceschini, a lecturer at the University of Melbourne and co-author of \u201cScam: Inside Southeast Asia&#8217;s Cybercrime Compounds\u201d, told CNA.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Franceschini argued that while syndicates have been known to exploit ASEAN\u2019s visa-free system by recruiting workers from the region, tightening immigration policies would only force syndicates to look for other ways to bring in recruits.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cMany people have entered Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia in violation of visa rules, often not even passing through formal immigration channels, so tightening visa rules is not necessarily a cure,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Wahyu Susilo, executive director of Migrant Care, a Jakarta-based advocacy group which\u00a0has been campaigning for the return of hundreds of Indonesians still trapped by scam and online gambling syndicates abroad, believed that tightening immigration policies would only serve as a temporary setback for many syndicates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cAre all victims trapped inside these criminal operations coming from countries that currently enjoy visa-free travel facilities?\u201d Wahyu told CNA, highlighting the fact that Chinese and Japanese tourists looking to enter Indonesia still need to apply for a visa on arrival.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The activist said authorities should instead focus on preventing people from abusing their visa arrangements and<\/span> overstaying<span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cTightening screenings at the border would only lead to profiling which is often based on stigma or stereotypes,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<section class=\"block block- block--view-mode-default clearfix\">\n<figure class=\"figure block block- block--view-mode-default clearfix\" data-img-id=\"\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--2p-n25XT--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_468,w_830\/fl_relative,g_south_east,l_mediacorp:cna:watermark:2024-04:reuters_1,w_0.1\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2026\/05\/22\/2026-05-10t083210z_1461186444_rc266lah0ewu_rtrmadp_3_indonesia-crime-gambling.jpg?itok=PpHaFuL7\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"figure__caption\">\n      Armed police officers guard outside an office building after authorities arrested, what police said, were more than 300 foreign nationals suspected of running a banned online gambling operation for two months, in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 10, 2026. (Photo: Reuters\/Willy Kurniawan)<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"text-long\">\n<h2><span>RAMIFICATIONS ABOUND<\/span><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>In 2006, the\u00a0<\/span>then-<span>10 ASEAN member states signed the Framework Agreement on Visa Exemption to strengthen regional ties and deepen cooperation among countries in the bloc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Timor-Leste, which formally joined ASEAN in October 2025, is not yet a signatory, although it already grants visa-free entry to citizens of several ASEAN countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cUndoing this agreement could upset relations among ASEAN members particularly if Indonesia or Malaysia are targeting people of certain nationalities,\u201d said Trubus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>The public policy expert noted that Malaysia and China currently have a\u00a0<\/span>reciprocal<span> visa exemption agreement which allows citizens of both countries visa-free entry for up to 30 days per visit, with a maximum cumulative stay of 90 days within a 180-day period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Meanwhile, Indonesians can travel to China visa-free for up to 240 hours<\/span> &#8211; or 10 days &#8211;<span> and to Japan for holders of electronic passports registered at the Japanese embassy or consulate prior to departure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cIndonesia or Malaysia tightening the rules in violation of existing agreements could trigger retaliation. That is something governments must think about,\u201d Trubus said, highlighting the fact that tourists from China and Japan contribute greatly to Indonesia and Malaysia\u2019s tourism industries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">According to the Indonesian Bureau of Statistics, more than 1.3 million visitors from China and 347,000 from Japan visited the country in 2025, contributing around US$1.6 billion and US$513 million to Indonesia\u2019s economy respectively.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Tourism Malaysia recorded more than 4.66 million visitors from China and 416,000 from Japan visited Malaysia in 2025. On average, tourists in Malaysia spent around RM4,000 (US$1,008) per trip, according to tourism analysts cited by The Star.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Meanwhile, analysts warned that syndicates can still find multiple ways to circumvent any tightening of immigration regulations, including relocating operations to areas with weak law enforcement and high levels of corruption.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>They could also increasingly recruit locally, luring people with promises of high-paying jobs in regions where poverty and unemployment remain high.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Syndicates may also force foreign recruits to travel through treacherous illegal routes along Indonesia and Malaysia\u2019s porous land and maritime borders, where many migrants and trafficking victims have lost their lives over the years.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<section class=\"block block- block--view-mode-default clearfix\">\n<figure class=\"figure block block- block--view-mode-default clearfix\" data-img-id=\"\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--YQ3eMQcv--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_468,w_830\/fl_relative,g_south_east,l_mediacorp:cna:watermark:2021-08:cna,w_0.1\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2024\/11\/13\/j3.jpg?itok=A576zsq5\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"figure__caption\">\n      A fisherman stands on the rocks littering the shores of Tanjung Balau in Johor, Malaysia. In 2021, the area was the scene of one of the deadliest accidents involving a boat carrying migrant workers from Indonesia. (Photo: CNA\/Zamzahuri Abas)<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"text-long\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cThey are resourceful, they adapt very quickly and they think several steps ahead,\u201d said Michael Chong &#8211; <\/span>head of the Malaysian Chinese Association\u2019s (MCA) public services and complaints department &#8211; who has helped numerous Malaysians who were trapped working for scam syndicates overseas.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The MCA is a component party of the Barisan Nasional coalition in Malaysia that currently forms part of the federal government.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cBy the time governments implement these regulations, the bad actors may already have moved elsewhere, leaving only ordinary travellers and legitimate businesses affected by the new rules.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span>FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND BETTER COOPERATION<\/span><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Instead of focusing primarily on tighter visa rules, analysts said governments should prioritise raising public awareness and strengthening cooperation among countries involved at every stage of the scam ecosystem &#8211; from the nations where workers are recruited, to the countries hosting scam compounds, and even those where victims are ultimately defrauded.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cCooperation between countries and law enforcement agencies is key, because criminal actors operate across jurisdictions and gaps in information-sharing have often allowed them to evade justice,\u201d Franceschini said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>He added that governments must also crack down on officials who may have colluded with, or turned a blind eye to, criminal syndicates setting up operations without scrutiny.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cThere needs to be strong measures to prevent the same kind of symbiotic criminal-elite relationship that we have seen elsewhere from taking hold,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cOnce that becomes entrenched, it is extremely difficult to unravel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<section class=\"block block- block--view-mode-default clearfix\">\n<figure class=\"figure block block- block--view-mode-default clearfix\" data-img-id=\"\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--jpjsHzFY--\/c_crop,h_900,w_1600,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,g_auto,h_468,w_830\/fl_relative,g_south_east,l_mediacorp:cna:watermark:2023-11:afp_watermark_14112023,w_0.1\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2026\/01\/17\/000_92w63t7.jpg?itok=Y5yGp-W9\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"figure__caption\">\n      A general view shows buildings in a suspected scam centre compound in Sihanoukville on Jan 14, 2026. (File photo: AFP\/Tang Chhin Sothy)<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"text-long\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Meanwhile, Chong of the\u00a0<\/span>MCA\u00a0<span>said greater public education remains one of the most effective ways to stop people from falling prey to scam syndicates in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cLaw enforcement must work closely with the media,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cThe media needs to keep highlighting these raids and prosecutions again and again so that these syndicates are deterred from expanding their operations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>He also urged people approached with suspicious job offers or claims of urgent financial\u00a0<\/span>help<span> to consult family members or trusted friends before making decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Banks, Chong added, can also play an important role in detecting suspicious transactions, especially when elderly customers attempt to withdraw unusually large sums of money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cIf an elderly person suddenly wants to withdraw all their savings, banks should be alert,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cSometimes a simple question from a bank officer can stop someone from becoming a victim.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"referenced-card\">\n<h4 class=\"h4 h4--related-block\">\n<div>Related:<\/div>\n<\/h4>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"media-object\">\n<div class=\"media-object__figure\">\n  <a class=\"link\" href=\"\/asia\/indonesia-ecommerce-ban-under-16-scams-social-media-6106181\"><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s--AkBeChxa--\/c_fill,g_auto,h_98,w_175\/fl_relative,g_south_east,l_mediacorp:cna:watermark:2023-11:afp_watermark_14112023,w_0.1\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2026\/05\/07\/indonesia_minister_meutya_hafid_ecommerce_ban.jpg?itok=9rcGIdg2\" alt=\"\"><br \/>\n                <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"media-object__content\">\n<div class=\"media-object__body\">\n<div class=\"list-object\">\n<h6 class=\"h6 list-object__heading\">\n<a class=\"h6__link list-object__heading-link\" href=\"\/asia\/indonesia-ecommerce-ban-under-16-scams-social-media-6106181\"><br \/>\n      <span>Indonesia eyes e-commerce ban for under-16s amid scam concerns, says minister<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"media-object\">\n<div class=\"media-object__figure\">\n  <a class=\"link\" href=\"\/asia\/myanmar-proposes-death-sentence-cyberscam-offences-6121056\"><br \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dam.mediacorp.sg\/image\/upload\/s---mhIgel1--\/c_crop,h_576,w_1024,x_0,y_56\/c_fill,g_auto,h_98,w_175\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1\/mediacorp\/cna\/image\/2026\/05\/14\/000_79v39g4.jpg?itok=aY53RtVu\" alt=\"\"><br \/>\n                <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"media-object__content\">\n<div class=\"media-object__body\">\n<div class=\"list-object\">\n<h6 class=\"h6 list-object__heading\">\n<a class=\"h6__link list-object__heading-link\" href=\"\/asia\/myanmar-proposes-death-sentence-cyberscam-offences-6121056\"><br \/>\n      <span>Myanmar proposes death sentence for cyberscam offences<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"text-long\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>For Ahmad, it is equally important for governments to respond quickly to reports of human trafficking, slavery and abuse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cWhen I was there, I didn\u2019t know who to call or who to trust,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cSome of us did try to reach out for help, but either help never came or it came too late &#8211; when people had already disappeared or had been beaten beyond recognition.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Ahmad said he still thinks about the fellow Indonesians he met inside the Laotian scam compound, many of whom may still be trapped there, unable to pay for their release or too terrified to escape.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cI have no way of contacting them,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cBefore the raid in Jakarta, I would probably have told them: just find your way home to Indonesia, because at least you\u2019ll be far away from these syndicates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cBut now,\u201d he added quietly, \u201cI don\u2019t know what I would tell them anymore.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-title=\"Source\" class=\"block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodearticlefield-source clearfix\">\n<div class=\"source__block\">\n<div class=\"source source--with-label\">\n    Source: CNA\/ni(as)\n  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-title=\"Categories\" class=\"block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodearticlefield-category clearfix\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"newslettercategory hidden\">\n<div class=\"layout layout--onecol\">\n<div class=\"layout__region layout__region--content\">\n<section data-title=\"Newsletter\" class=\"block block-layout-builder block-field-blocktaxonomy-termcategoryfield-newsletter clearfix\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"visually-hidden\">Newsletter<\/div>\n<div>\n<section class=\"newsletter-subscription\">\n<div class=\"subscription-light subscription_form__614fca4e-5d2e-4738-a9cd-e77e0d426c57 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Foreign nationals [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":309,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Indonesia, Malaysia\u2019s idea on tighter visa rules to counter foreign scammers may not be \u2018a cure\u2019 - Asia Newscast<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=307\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why Indonesia, Malaysia\u2019s idea on tighter visa rules to counter foreign scammers may not be \u2018a cure\u2019 - Asia Newscast\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Advertisement Asia Why Indonesia, Malaysia\u2019s idea on tighter visa rules to counter foreign scammers may not be \u2018a cure\u2019 Indonesia and Malaysia are considering tighter visa and immigration rules to combat criminal networks and scam syndicates that make use of foreigners, but experts caution that there are diplomatic and economic costs to consider. 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