Cramped detainees have to sit up when sleeping

KUCHING: For the past 64 days, the 47 Malaysians held in a prison in Banteay Mancheay, Cambodia, have had to put up with conditions so cramped that they are forced to sit up when they sleep in their cells.

All they have to eat is rice and vegetable soup, and water. But the lack of nutritious food is partly due to the scarcity of halal food in the area.

The low nutrition and cramped conditions have led to some detainees developing rashes and other skin problems.

Therefore, the visit by a small group led by Julau member of parliament Larry Sng was very welcome. The group, which included Zunita Sedini, 42, mother of detainee Yusuf Islam Abdul Halik, arrived at the prison on Wednesday.

It was a pleasant surprise for the detainees. According to witnesses, their mood changed completely.

One member of the group, who declined to be identified, said detainees began to cry tears of joy.

“They (detainees) didn’t know the members of the group, but they grabbed their hands and hugged them, while Zunita searched for her son, Yusuf.

“It was quite a sight when mother met son. We were so happy to see them hug and kiss.

“It also brought joy to other detainees.

“You could see the look of hope on the faces of the detainees. They believe they will be released and taken home soon.

“We spent an hour with them, but it went by so fast. Everyone had messages that they asked us to give their families.”

Prior to meeting the detainees, the group spent five minutes talking to Malaysian embassy officers and listened to a 10-minute briefing by prison officials.

The group thanked Cambodian officials for allowing the visit.

The Malaysians — 40 from Sarawak, three each from Sabah and Selangor and one from Kuala Lumpur — were detained on Dec 11 for allegedly being involved in online gaming.

However, Malaysian embassy officials who interviewed them were told that they had accepted threemonth job offers from a recruitment agency, which Malaysian authorities believe could be a front for a human trafficking syndicate.

Talks are underway between the Malaysian and Cambodian governments to secure the release of the detainees, aged between 19 and 44.