Accused of links to human trafficking and cyber fraud, agents say former deputy minister’s visit to Myanmar linked to real estate deal

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Police have confirmed that former Deputy Minister Datuk Mashitah Ibrahim visited Myanmar for property investments, amid an ongoing investigation into her alleged involvement in human trafficking and a cyber scam ring.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said police had established that Mashitah’s trip to Myanmar was related to a property transaction in Myawaddy, Myanmar, as reported by The StaR.

However, Mohd Shuhaily stressed that police are continuing their investigation into the human trafficking allegations involving Mashitah and other Malaysians in Myanmar.

“We have also recorded the statement of a person with a Datuk Seri title in connection with the same case,” he said, adding that police have recorded statements from five people, including Mashitah.

“We will also record the statement of an Indonesian blogger today, which will be made online due to his location in Jakarta,” Mohd Shuhaily added.

Mashitah denies involvement in illegal activities and dismisses the allegations as baseless, claiming her visit to Myanmar in 2020 was solely for real estate investment.

She also told New Straits Times that she and her husband were invited by their friend, Datuk Seri Leong Kee Huat, to attend a foundation stone laying ceremony in Myanmar, where they were required to read an English text.

“The photos that say I am there with gangsters are actually photos of me with security personnel at the project site,” she is said to have said.

Police said earlier that they are looking for a “Datuk Seri” to assist with the investigation.

The issue was first raised in May this year by a civil society group called Justice for Myanmar, which alleged that Malaysians were playing a major role in the Yatai New City and Dongmei Park projects, which are linked to the Karen Border Guard Force, an ally of the Myanmar junta. The border guard force is now called the Karen National Army.

According to the group, Mashitah and her husband Datuk Abdul Shakor Abu Bakar are said to have joined a group of prominent Malaysians to launch the Dongmei Park project, which they describe as “a cyber scam park”.

The issue resurfaced after a Malaysian group called the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation called for an investigation into Mashitah’s involvement with property developer Dongmei Group.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail previously confirmed that the investigation was ongoing, but declined to comment further to avoid speculation.

Saifuddin also shared insights from the recent ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in Laos, noting that human trafficking is on the rise in all participating countries.

On Sunday, police inspector Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the investigation is being conducted under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act, 2007.