CAMBODIA : It was a big relief for Zunita Sedini to be able to meet her 21-year-old son whom she had not met for 64 days.
“Sad and happy at the same time, that’s how I felt when I saw him in person. And I feel glad to be able to meet the other children as well,” said the mother of the detainee, who was among 46 others now confined to a Cambodian prison.
Yusuf and the other 46 Malaysians are being detained in Poipet, Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison since Dec 11 last year over their suspected involvement in illegal online gambling.
“But how I wish I could have more time with him and to hug him.
“Now I feel very sad because I could not bring him home,” she said in a press conference at Siem Reap, Cambodia, after visiting Yusuf and the other Malaysian detainees yesterday.
She said words could not express how she felt when she saw her son and the rest.
“I cannot imagine what they have to go through. They must have missed their parents a lot,” she said.
She said during the visit to the prison, she brought messages from some mothers to their children who were among the detainees there.
“I conveyed their mothers’ messages, and they all came up to hug me. I was so touched and felt sadness within me. It’s a pity to see them in such situation,” she said.
When asked on what advice she had for Yusuf and the rest, she said: “I told them to be patient, continue to pray, and assured them they would be brought home soon.”
Zunita conveyed her sincere appreciation to the Cambodian government for allowing her, media practitioners and other members of the delegation led by Julau MP Larry Sng to visit the detainees.
“Thanks to our Malaysian government, too, for making every effort to bring them home safe,” she added.
Meanwhile, Chong Mei Lan whose 27-year-old brother Chong Jun Khong is another detainee there, said she felt better after meeting his brother.
She said her brother seemed to be alright, except for some skin rashes. “I have yet to call and tell my parents. I will inform them when I reach home later today (Feb 14).”
