Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed appreciation to his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen for the latter’s support in bringing back Malaysian victims of a job scam syndicate in Cambodia.

Anwar, who was on a oneday official visit to Cambodia yesterday, described Hun Sen’s leadership as ‘outstanding’ in giving full support and collaboration in resolving the job scam issue.

“I also must express my thanks to the Prime Minister (Hun Sen) because Cambodia is one of the countries most forthcoming and helpful when we have to deal with job scam issue which also affects your citizens, but then you were helpful in assisting us to bring back 287 Malaysian victims of a job scam.

“Thank you very much; it means a lot to hundreds of families affected by this scam,” he said in a joint press conference after a bilateral meeting with Hun Sen at the Peace Palace.

It has been reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had received 572 reports involving Malaysians who were victims of job scam syndicates abroad as of Feb 20. The reports were received through the Malaysian embassies in Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Yangon.

Meanwhile, Anwar said he was looking forward to Hun Sen’s contribution of ideas in the next Asean Summit regarding a comprehensive framework to tackle the current Myanmar crisis.

According to Anwar, it was no longer an internal issue as more than 200,000 Rohingya refugees had fled Myanmar to Malaysia.

Anwar said the Asean communities understand the current situation in Myanmar but the country’s junta must also understand that the matter cannot remain unresolved.