KUANTAN: The Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) is grappling with the mystery surrounding the sudden death of Muhammad Izzat Abdul Wahab, who appeared to be in good health after being rescued from a hotel in Tachileik, Myanmar, on Oct 11 but later succumbed to a heart attack.
MHO enlisted the help of a Myanmar-based non-governmental organization (NGO) to secure Izzat's release and subsequently sent him to the immigration centre in Tachileik to complete the necessary documentation for his return to Malaysia.
However, the 28-year-old reportedly suffered a heart attack at the centre on Oct 14.
MHO's public relations officer Daniel Khoo, expressed his bewilderment at the turn of events.
He explained that Izzat had contacted MHO secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim for help on Oct 11, revealing his whereabouts at a hotel in Tachileik.
"MHO contacted our NGO partner in Myanmar to go to the hotel where Izzat was staying.
His agent, who had brought him to Myanmar, kept him at the hotel, and he had not fallen into the hands of any scam syndicates.
"Our partner rescued him and took him to the immigration centre in Tachileik. Izzat even spoke to our representative, Datuk Hisham, and his family members over the phone, assuring them he was safe.
"And then, suddenly, he died. We are suspicious about how someone young and seemingly healthy could die in detention. Moreover, the claim that he died from heart issues is shocking," Khoo told reporters after visiting Izzat's family in Kampung Peramu.
It was revealed that Izzat had obtained the MHO secretary-general's contact details via Facebook while staying at the hotel, and he reached out for help regarding his situation.
Izzat, believed to be a victim of a job fraud syndicate, was deceived into travelling to Bangkok on Oct 7 before being rescued by MHO representatives.
On Oct 14, an MHO representative informed Izzat's family that he had died at the immigration centre due to heart problems .
Khoo also disclosed that MHO had been rescuing victims of Malaysian scam syndicates abroad for about a year, collaborating with local NGOs in the respective countries to secure the victims' release.
"We employ the most appropriate methods to rescue them. We believe in the local NGOs, who have cooperated effectively with us. They provide accurate information and have successfully rescued victims.
"We have never encountered any issues. Even this time, the victim had already been safely transported to the immigration centre before his sudden demise, and this raises concerns," he remarked.
Yesterday, Datuk Hishamuddin urged Izzat's family to file a police report to facilitate a comprehensive investigation into his death.