Shafie: We want info on detained Sabahans

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is trying to get information from Wisma Putra on Sabahans who were among the 47 Malaysians detained in Cambodia in December.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the state government had yet to get any information, including the number of Sabahans arrested by Cambodian authorities on Dec 11 for suspected involvement in an online gambling syndicate.

“I have to get the details on why they were detained. We’ll try to find out and if there is a need for us to help, we will do so.

“We will communicate with relevant authorities to find out first. We will ask the Foreign Ministry to communicate with its counterpart on how we can ensure that the detainees can be brought back safely.”

He was speaking after attending a Chinese New Year open house hosted by Deputy Home Minister and Sepanggar member of parliament Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman in Kolombong here yesterday.

He was responding to a question whether the state government was aware of Sabahans being among the 47 Malaysians detained in Cambodia, which was confirmed by Wisma Putra four days ago.

At a press conference in Kuching on Thursday, Julau MP Larry Sng said 44 of the Malaysians were from Sarawak.

Wisma Putra is trying to bring home the detainees.