By Nancy Nais
SIEM REAP, Feb 14: The Sarawak government is working closely with the Cambodian government on the issue of 47 Malaysians detained in Banteay Meanchey Provisional Prison, near here.
Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah assured that the state was always ready to assist the detainees, including their families.
“The case is still under Cambodian police investigation. However, rest assured, we will assist the detainees in any way, including paying for the legal fees, if needed to.
“Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg also said since the case is under Cambodia, we must act accordingly to the law,” Fatimah said when met at Siem Reap International Airport today.
Fatimah, who together with Santubong MP Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Sarawak Foreign Affairs director Deddy Faisal Ahmad, are here to visit the detainees.
They arrived at 7.50am. Accompanied by Embassy of Malaysia deputy chief of mission/charge d’Affaires Ruzaimi Mohamad, they are scheduled to visit the detainees at 2.00pm.
Fatimah hoped the detainees will be found not guilty.
The detainees, of which 44 are from Sarawak, were detained on Dec 11 for alleged involvement in illegal online gambling.
Apart from visiting the detainees, it is learnt that the delegation will also visit the ‘house’ where the detainees were first caught by the police.
They will then depart to Phnom Penh to meet representatives from Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and officials from the Embassy of Malaysia in Phnom Penh and senior minister in charge of Muslim Affairs Othsman Hassan. — DayakDaily
