S’wak govt to bring back 43 ex-detainees comprising 40 S’wakians and 3 Sabahans

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Fatimah, Wan Junaidi and the freed Malaysians pose for the camera before they board the bus to the airport.

KUCHING: The Sarawak state government is bringing back the 43 ex-detainees, comprising 40 Sarawakians and three Sabahans, from Cambodia via a chartered flight.

They are expected to reach Kuching the earliest by 1.30pm today. Accompanying them will be a state government delegation led by Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.

The other four ex-detainees from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are taking AirAsia flight from Seam Reap and expected to reach Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) at 11.35am.

The detainees are all smiles on the plane home.

Santubong MP Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was part of the state government delegation to Cambodia, said Cambodia-based JC Airlines had agreed to let state government charter an aircraft for this purpose.

Speaking to reporters last night in Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia, he said Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing had assisted in arranging for the charter, air clearance and landing rights for the aircraft.

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