Let police unmask the culprit, say ministers

KUCHING: Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah and Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar say they are not in the position to elaborate on the details of the scam, which caused 47 Malaysians to end up being detained in Cambodia.

In a press conference following their arrival here from Cambodia with the 40 released Sarawakians, Fatimah was asked whether the mastermind behind the affair could be a Sarawakian.

“That’s the angle for the police to investigate. Follow-up will be done by the police,” she said.

Wan Junaidi, meanwhile, said there was ‘something’ that they could not disclose.

“Let the police investigate; they have their intelligence people. We have the information, but let the police investigate.

“The police are in contact with the victims’ families,” he said, adding that Sarawakians are eager for the truth to be known.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sarawak Regional Office director Deddy Faisal Ahmad Salleh said the success of the mission was a perfect example of good relations between the federal government – represented by Wisma Putra – and the Sarawak government.

“We work to our utmost best without looking at political beliefs, creed, religion or race. We want to say ‘ thank you’ to the Malaysian and Cambodian governments,” he said.

The 47 Malaysians had been detained at Banteay Manchey Provincial Prison near Siem Reap since Dec 11 last year. They were released at 6.30pm ( Cambodian time) on Friday after investigations revealed that they were duped by a humantrafficking syndicate.