Prison chief buys detainees halal food

KUCHING: THE 47 Malaysians detained in a prison in Banteay Mancheay, Cambodia, are treated well, with the head of the prison using his own money to ensure 13 Muslims in the group get halal food.

Zunita Sedini, the mother of a detainee, said they were being treated well, despite the cramped conditions at the prison.

She said the prison chief’s kindheartedness was a reflection of the Cambodian government’s efforts to ensure that the welfare of the detainees, including food requirements of Muslims, was taken care of, and that the relationship between Cambodia and Malaysia was not threatened.

The prison chief, who did not want to be named, had allowed a local non-governmental organisation called Cambodian Muslim Youth Alliance to provide food for Muslim detainees, but the organisation could not sustain this.

Zunita said the prison staff had warmly welcomed the small group of Malaysians, led by Julau member of parliament Larry Sng, when they visited the prison on Wednesday.

“I can’t describe the joy I felt when I saw my son (21-year-old Yusuf Islam Abdul Halik), as well as all the other detainees.

“I feel for their parents. As a mother, I know what it feels like to be in such a situation.

“I am the messenger for them. I have been given all sorts of messages from detainees to send to their families in Malaysia.”

Among those she spoke to was Nur Syahzani Hammdie, 21, who she said was overcome with emotion and could only say: “Tell my mother that I miss her.”