Experiences of a Chinese Mother in Malaysia: Fake Visas, Scams, and Interactions with Compatriots
This article shares the experiences of a Chinese mother who has lived in Malaysia for three years. It covers various topics, including crackdowns on illegal activities, common scams targeting Chinese expats, and interactions with fellow compatriots.
Immigration Bureau's Crackdown on Illegal Visa Agents
Recently, the Malaysian Immigration Bureau conducted a raid on a visa agency in Kuala Lumpur, arresting six individuals, five of whom were Chinese. The agency, known as "Agent 001," was allegedly involved in producing fake visas and red cards. This incident has highlighted the issue of some Chinese individuals exploiting Malaysia's relaxed environment for illegal activities.
The speaker applauds these efforts, emphasizing that such illegal actions tarnish the reputation of law-abiding Chinese residents and disrupt Malaysia's stability.
Common Scams Related to Visas and Red Cards
Many scams target Chinese individuals due to language barriers, information asymmetry, and the desire to save money or gain control. Scammers often exploit legal loopholes in visa applications, promising medical visas, work visas, or even model visas to facilitate long-term residency. They might also falsely claim to expedite the process for programs like MH2H, which allows foreigners to live in Malaysia long-term.
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Fake Information: Scammers may create fake documents to obtain visas. If discovered, this can lead to denial of entry or even imprisonment and fines.
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Fake Visas: Some scammers provide entirely fabricated visas.
Applying for a red card (permanent residency) is notoriously difficult, requiring fulfilling stringent criteria:
- Marriage: Being married to a Malaysian citizen for at least five years with extensive documentation.
- Significant Contribution: Making a substantial and internationally recognized contribution to Malaysia in areas like technology, culture, sports, education, or business.
- Investment: Entrepreneurs making huge investments and contributions to the country.
- High-End Technical Talent: Holding a job in Malaysia for over 10 years, subject to thorough review and a lengthy waiting period.
The speaker emphasizes that obtaining a red card is not simply a matter of paying a large sum of money, as some scammers might suggest.
Driving Licenses and International Driving Permits
The speaker recounts their experience obtaining a Malaysian driving license. They highlight the existence of individuals offering guaranteed passes for a fee, contingent on achieving a minimum score in the initial test.
The speaker also addresses the use of international driving licenses (IDP) obtained through Taobao or Alipay. She clarifies that China is not a signatory to the United Nations road traffic treaty, rendering these online IDPs merely translations. While these translations might be acceptable for short-term use, they are not legally valid. Driving without a valid license can lead to severe consequences in case of an accident. Some drivers take the risk of offering bribes to avoid consequences, which the speaker strongly advises against.
Negative Encounters with Compatriots
The speaker shares a few incidents that highlight the importance of exercising caution when interacting with fellow Chinese expats.
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Failed Cooperation: A fellow Chinese mother studying law in Malaysia approached the speaker to promote short-term experience courses at her child's international school. The speaker initially agreed but later realized the scheme was primarily driven by profit, potentially compromising the quality of the experience for participating children. When the speaker tried to withdraw, the lawyer-mother threatened and intimidated her.
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Borrowing Teaching Materials: Another acquaintance asked to borrow the speaker's daughter's international school teaching materials. When the speaker refused, the acquaintance went behind her back to ask her daughter to provide the materials, which created animosity between them.
These experiences led the speaker to realize the wisdom of her husband's advice to be cautious when interacting with people, highlighting the importance of protecting oneself from potential exploitation.
Conclusion
The speaker concludes by sharing her hopes that her experiences will serve as a cautionary tale for newcomers to Malaysia or those considering moving there. She emphasizes the importance of abiding by local laws and respecting local customs. While Malaysia offers a democratic environment, it is crucial to be vigilant and protect oneself from scams and exploitation, even within one's own community.
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