BANTEAY MEANCHEY, Cambodia, Feb 14: The 47 Malaysian detainees in Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison were very happy to meet Sarawak government representatives today.
Speaking to the press after visiting the detainees as part of a delegation, Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Sri Fatimah Abdullah said they were all smiling and some shed tears during the visit.
Deputy Chief of Mission/Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of Malaysia in Cambodia Ruzaimi Mohamad accompanied Fatimah, together with Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Sarawak Foreign Affairs director Deddy Faisal Ahmad to meet the detainees and have a better understanding of the situation in the prison.
Thanking the Cambodian government for allowing their visit, Fatimah said the Sarawak government also appreciates that the detainees’ needs were accommodated.
“As advised by Banteay Meanchey prison chief General Ung Siphan, the Sarawak government will write to the Cambodian government to ensure that the detainees’ welfare are taken care of, such as medicines for allergies and other personal items,” she said.
With the visiting time allocated, Fatimah, Wan Junaidi and Deddy also had opportunities to speak to most of the detainees.
She added that the detainees have asked for help, to convey their messages to their parents, saying that they were well and also to apologise for what has happened.
Earlier, the delegates had visited the house where the detainees were arrested for alleged involvement in illegal online gambling.
Located at Poipet, near the Cambodia-Thailand border, it is in the city of Banteay Meanchey Province.
The journey from Siem Reap took about three hours by road. — DayakDaily
