THE cordial relations between Malaysia and Cambodia have helped the Malaysian Embassy in Phnom Penh in dealing with employment scams, Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia, Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim, said.

He added that the warm relationship between the two countries helped the embassy to rescue 286 Malaysians, who had become victims of job scams between 2019 and 2023.

“In 2022 alone, we saved 250 people through the good coordination between the Malaysian Embassy and the Cambodian police,” he said at the Malaysian embassy today ahead of the official visit of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim tomorrow. 

Eldeen said the bilateral relationship extended beyond government to ordinary people, evident as many civil society groups frequently go to Cambodia to assist the Malay Muslim community in Champa.

“Aside from which, Malaysians also visited Champa to deliver Quran, dig wells and conduct sacrificial ceremonies,” he said.

Eldeen said Anwar’s visit reflected the close relationship between Phnom Penh and Kuala Lumpur.

He added that the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MOU) between Malaysia and Cambodia on the recruitment, employment and repatriation of Cambodian workers will have an impact on the Malaysian economy.

“The MOU is very helpful because we will get the services of Cambodian workers,” he said.

He said currently there are about 5,000 Malaysians in Cambodia, plus about 400 Malaysian businesses.

Anwar’s one-day official visit to Cambodia tomorrow will be his seventh overseas visit since he was appointed prime minister on November 24, 2022. – Bernama, March 26, 2023.