Bad publicity, good education: The movie No More Bets, which tells of a Chinese computer programmer (centre) caught in a violent scam ring in South-East Asia, has scared away many Chinese tourists from visiting the region, especially Thailand and Cambodia. — Agencies
A CHINESE programmer, indignant at being passed over for promotion yet again, flies off to Singapore to work for a new gaming company offering big bucks.
A model, having lost everything after being caught up in an identity theft/sex crime scandal, is lured into a glamorous new life with easy money: working as a croupier for an online casino.
But both soon find themselves in South-East Asia’s Golden Triangle passport-less, locked-up and strong-armed into grinding for a scam park run by Chinese gangsters.
Though uncannily familiar – from recent reports about thousands of people trapped and forced to work in slave-like conditions in scam parks along the lawless borders of countries in the Mekong River region – this scenario is fictional.
It is the plot of a movie from China called No More Bets which became a huge box office hit in the country last year. It was such a massive blockbuster that it not only raised awareness of the dangers of job scams among the Chinese, but also frightened many away from travelling to the Indochinese countries, especially Thailand and Cambodia.
'No more bets', with Gina Chen Jin as the scammed model, is not all fun and entertainment but it is still a box-office hit. — Trinity CineAsia/Others
Malaysia, luckily, has not been implicated in any of the viral social media rumours claiming tourists might be kidnapped and smuggled across borders to work in these brutal scam parks.
However, the success of No More Bets shows that perhaps we too need Malaysian films to explore this harmful phenomenon.
The Malaysian story
Malaysia can definitely do with a similar local movie, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre for Social and Policy Studies chairman Dr Chin Yee Mun agrees.
“No More Bets has been successful in raising awareness among Chinese citizens, especially the young, and based on newspapers reports, it caused the number of Chinese tourists to the affected countries to drop significantly.
“We must do the same in our country. It’s time for moviemakers in Malaysia to do their part to tell the stories from the Malay-sian side, so that more people will understand the issue better.”
While the actual number is not known, many Malaysians too have fallen for these job scams, ending up in scam parks not only in the Mekong region but also South America.
According to the Foreign Ministry, it has assisted 517 duped Malaysians return home from these scam parks as of Nov 9 last year while the Home Ministry told Parliament that 158 victims of overseas job scam syndicates are still stranded in their countries of destination as of November.
People who are forced to take part in online scams are most often trafficked persons and migrants in vulnerable situations, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has noted. Their accounts are often similar. Those rescued or who manage to escape tell of inhumane working conditions in scam parks that are usually based in closed casinos or abandoned buildings in Special Economic Zones in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
Many talk of long shifts spent in barb-wired premises heavily guarded by men with batons, sticks and guns – in some cases, people are said to be “literally chained to their desks”. Those who try to fight back or escape are beaten and tortured. Debt bondage and threats of sale to another operation are often used to keep the victims in line.
Watching the Malaysian experience in a film will be a good way to raise awareness of this danger here, says Chin, urging the government to provide seed funding for any Malaysian filmmakers who want to make movies on the topic.
“Not only that, schools and universities should encourage students to make short films that can be turned into PSAs [public service announcements].”
Concurring, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies’ senior lecturer Dr Syaimak Ismail says governments can play a crucial role by incentivising filmmakers to produce content that puts the spotlight on this issue.
“Promoting a film for raising awareness about these issues can be a valuable strategy in response to the rising prevalence of scam parks and the need to raise awareness among the public.
“Governments can allocate financial support and funding to filmmakers dedicated to producing content addressing scam parks.
“The financial backing facilitates the creation of comprehensive and impactful films that delve into the complexities of fraudulent activities within scam parks,” she says.
Echoing Syaimak, Chin says, to produce accurate and compelling content, it is important for the filmmakers to be allowed access to not only the information relating to this crime in Malaysia but also other details – including the victims.
However, it’s important to carefully consider the cultural, social, and regulatory context of Malaysia, Syaimak cautions.
“Supporting educational programmes and training initiatives focused on scam parks within the film industry is crucial.
“Other than financial support, the government can encourage filmmakers to tackle this pressing issue through sensitive storytelling. This approach not only stimulates the production of relevant content but also underscores the government’s commitment to addressing societal challenges,” she says.
A comprehensive financial support system is vital.
“Government incentives for film production addressing scam parks hold the potential to foster high-quality content that not only entertains but also educates the public.
“By strategically allocating financial support, offering tax incentives, providing subsidies, and investing in infrastructure and education, the government can empower filmmakers to tackle the issue of scam parks head-on.”
The support for the filmmakers needs to be complemented with incentives for film distributors and cinemas.
“The government can also provide support for the distribution of these films, ensuring that the message reaches a broad audience,” Syaimak stresses.
“Incentivising film distributors, cinema networks and broadcasters to prioritise content on scam parks ensures widespread dissemination.
“Financial support for the promotion and marketing of films addressing scam parks enhances their visibility.”
The government can also facilitate participation in film festivals and international platforms, amplifying the global reach of these productions and positioning them as influential tools for societal change, she adds.
Start a conversation
To further foster awareness, these films can be used to initiate discussions of the issue.
Noting the power of moving pictures, Chin – who led a survey aimed at studying Malaysians’ awareness of scam park activities last October – shares that film and documentary screenings have been recommended as a strategy to shed light on this type of human trafficking and its impact.
“The screenings can be followed by expert discussions to engage the audience further,” he says.
The study, which also sought a solution to prevent more Malaysians from becoming victims, was conducted in collaboration with UiTM’s Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies in Perlis and Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies (Huayan). Syaimak was also involved in the research.
The film screening sessions can also encourage discussions around potential solutions to the scam park issues as presented in the films, she says, reiterating that government film incentives can become a vital catalyst for positive change in addressing the challenges posed by scam parks.
Ultimately, in recognising the power of film as a tool for social impact, the government can contribute to the creation of well-informed and socially conscious filmmakers capable of effectively addressing the issue in their work by investing in the development of relevant skills and knowledge, she says.
“The resulting films will have the capacity to drive societal discussions, prompt change, and contribute to a more informed and vigilant public,” says Syaimak.
