KUCHING, Feb 10: Julau MP Larry Sng will be flying to Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison, Cambodia, on Wednesday (Feb 13) to check on the condition of the 47 Malaysian detainees — 44 of whom are Sarawakians.
In a statement today, Sng said the Malaysian Embassy in Cambodia managed to make arrangements for his delegation to visit the detainees on Wednesday.
“I am scheduled to go to Cambodia with a delegation comprising media personnel and family members of the victims on Feb 13 to personally gauge the situation of the prison and condition of the Malaysian detainees there.
“The Malaysian Embassy has also managed to make arrangements for the visiting delegation to Banteay Meanchey Prison this coming Wednesday,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sng said he had just been informed that AirAsia was willing to be part of the mission to bring home the 47 Malaysians by absorbing the cost of bringing them back.
“I am very proud because many quarters are willing to chip in in different ways without taking into consideration race, religion or political differences.
“I believe the government can successfully handle the issue,” said Sng.
Sng said various efforts had been set in motion to bring them home safely.
Today is the 61st day the Malaysians have been detained in the provincial prison, which is 446km from the capital Phnom Penh, without trial. But it was only recently that the Malaysian Embassy knew about this case.
The matter was only made known to several of their parents about a month ago when news of their arrests was published in Cambodian news.
Sng claimed that these 47 Malaysians were victims of human trafficking. They were promised high-paying jobs by scammers in exchange for about US$200.
Upon their arrival in Cambodia, they were housed in a private home. After several weeks, they felt restless when no jobs were forthcoming. Then the police came to arrest them for illegal online gaming. They denied it.
They were held for a week in a lock-up and then transferred to the provincial jail till now. They have not been brought to a court of law to be charged or to be remanded. — DayakDaily
