Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim is demanding a detailed explanation over the alleged deportation of Cambodia’s leading opposition figure, Sam Rainsy from Malaysia.
He said that he was saddened to read a report which claims that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who champions rights and democracy, had turned away Rainsy.
"It seemed that the prime minister has made a promise with Hun Sen, who is in power in Cambodia now," the PKR lawmaker said in a statement today.
However, Hassan (above) acknowledged that the Foreign Ministry had since come up with a denial, saying that Anwar was not aware that Rainsy was in Malaysia.
"With regard to the presence of the former Chief Opposition Member of Cambodia Sam Rainsy in Malaysia, the Foreign Ministry wishes to reiterate that the prime minister was not informed of his arrival to this country,” it said.
“Nonetheless, Rainsy left Malaysia (on Wednesday) morning and no public programme was held during his stay here,” the ministry said in a brief statement this morning.
Hassan said that if true, this leads to the question of why Anwar was not kept apprised of the visit.
“I think we can give Anwar the benefit of the doubt that he was not informed, but then, we must ask the question to the Foreign Ministry.
“It is the duty of the Foreign Ministry to inform Anwar of such developments. There could be negligence on its part if Anwar doesn’t know about Rainsy’s visit,” he claimed.
The initial report by Cambodian news outlet Khmer Times said that Rainsy was deported by Malaysian authorities and had prevented him and his entourage from holding a meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
The report quoted Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as saying that Rainsy had entered Malaysia via a private jet while travelling on a French passport.
This purportedly allowed him to evade the scrutiny of the Malaysian authorities.
Hun Sen also reportedly thanked Anwar for Rainsy's expulsion.
Uncertainty persists
Uncertainty persists over the matter as photos posted on Rainsy's official Facebook page show him meeting with Subang MP Wong Chen in Parliament.
He was also pictured visiting other spots around Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini is trying to reach out to Wong for clarification.
Hassan said that he too saw the photos of Rainsy in Parliament and is waiting for further explanation to clear up the matter.
"I would agree if war criminals like (former US president) George W Bush and (former British prime minister) Tony Blair who waged war against and destroyed Iraq, are chased away from Malaysia.
"But I don't agree with an opposition leader like Rainsy, who has been fighting for democratic changes in Cambodia, is turned away from Malaysia in such a manner," Hassan said.
Hassan said that Hun Sen has been a dictatorial leader since coming to power in the 1980s. - Mkini
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