By LYNCH COWAN
Your freedom on humanitarian grounds, so too your journey home: CM
KUCHING: The state government will bear all the costs to bring back home 40 Sarawakians released from detention in Banteay Meancheay, Cambodia on Friday.
This was disclosed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg after chairing Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) supreme council’s meeting at the party headquarters in Jalan Bako here, yesterday.
Abang Johari also extended his thanks to all the state government’s representatives and Wisma Putra officials over the release of the 47 Malaysian detainees from Banteay Meancheay Provincial Prison in Cambodia at 6.30pm Cambodia time on Friday.
Abang Johari said besides Wisma Putra officials the state government had also sent a delegation led by Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah to Cambodia to negotiate the release of the detainees.
The Chief Minister also thanked the Cambodian government, Prime Minister Hun Sen and all his Cabinet ministers and officials involved in the handling of the case.
He also thanked Wisma Putra for working closely with the state government in efforts to secure the release of the detainees.
On claims by certain quarters that Sarawak was trying to claim credit over the release of the detainees, Abang Johari said there was no truth to the claims, adding: “Efforts to secure the release of the detainees was not politically motivated but one done through humanitarian diplomacy.”
“Sarawak will not claim credit…but if they want to claim credit, so be it.
“I am also glad that the process went well and now the detainees are released. We pity them as they were victims of job scammers who promised them high paying jobs in Cambodia,” he said.
Abang Johari added that the detainees were offered $1,500 a month which is a huge amount if we convert it to Malaysian Ringgit and this case should be a reminder to all Sarawakians to be very careful when looking for jobs, especially overseas.
The former detainees are scheduled to arrive at Kuching International Airport at 5pm today.
