KUCHING, Feb 9: Social media users should refrain from viraling speculations on the fate of the 47 Malaysians detained by the Cambodian authorities.
State Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Hafsah Harun cautioned that the speculations could complicate the negotiation process between the Malaysian and Cambodian governments to bring the detainees home.
In a statement today, Hafsah said she was in the midst of arranging a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and the families of the detainees.
In relation to that, she also urged members of the state government to meet the family members of the 44 Sarawakian detainees as this would help alleviate their worries and anxiousness.
“Today marks the 60th day all 47 Malaysians have been detained in Cambodia. I have just met with some of the family members of the detainees.
“They are very worried and anxious about the safety of the detainees, as all of them are still young.”
Meanwhile, Hafsah thanked the Foreign Ministry for their prompt response to the issue after a press conference was given by Julau MP Larry Sng on Feb 7 on the issue.
A national daily today quoted Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey Provincial director Um Siphan as saying that officials were making preparations to release the Malaysians, who were detained on suspicion of running an illegal gambling operation there.
However, it has since emerged they were actually victims of a syndicate who had lured them to Cambodia on the pretext of lucrative paying jobs.
Um Siphan was quoted as confirming that the group of 37 men and 10 women would be released soon although he could not specify an exact date.
It was reported that representatives from the Malaysian embassy in Phnom Penh were scheduled to meet the Cambodian Justice Ministry’s representatives to secure freedom for the Malaysians soon.
Sng earlier today issued a statement that one of the Malaysian detainees was recently taken to a hospital for surgery.
Information is scarce but Larry said he was informed by a family representative, who is now in Cambodia, that one of the Malaysians detained was taken to the hospital last week for stomach surgery.
Sng planned to visit the detainees who are being held at the Banteay Meanchey Prison. — DayakDaily
