Mugshot PTU
KUCHING: The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is waiting for instructions to ferry back 47 Malaysians who were released from a Cambodian jail yesterday.
Its chief Tan Sri Affendi Buang, said the party was monitoring the development and was ready to carry out the mission when needed.
"So far there is no instruction (to send a plane to Cambodia) yet. I will notify you if there are further developments, "he said briefly when contacted by NSTP, today (Saturday).
All the 47 Malaysians detained at Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison since last December were released late yesterday following negotiations between the Cambodian and Malaysian governments.
NGO Antarabangsa chairman Datuk Dr Mustapha Ahmad Marican, who confirmed the matter said the decision was made by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on finding that all the detainees were duped by a recruitment agency.
He said Minister in the Cambodian Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Othsman Hassan had informed that they had looked at all details and convinced that the Malaysians were victims of a job scam.
Wisma Putra had confirmed last week that 47 Malaysians were detained since December 11 last year, on charges of cheating, setting up and conducting illegal online gambling activities.
In addition to Wisma Putra, several leaders and elected representatives from Sarawak were in Cambodia for the past few days to discuss ways to release the detainees.