Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn commented that human trafficking and online scamming operations are global concerns, but what is important are joint efforts and cooperation to tackle the issues.

Sokhonn made his remarks during a conversation with his Malaysian counterpart Sri Saifuddin Abdullah on September 9, during the latter’s working trip to Phnom Penh. The conversation touched on cooperation between the two countries on joint efforts to fight human trafficking.

“Deputy Prime minister Prak Sokhonn told Foreign Minister Dato’ Sri Saifuddin Abdullah that these crimes happen in all countries, big or small and we must all combat them. He underlined that the best way to do so is to join hands and have reliable cooperation between nations,” said a foreign ministry press statement.

According to the ministry, Abdullah thanked the Cambodian government and authorities for lending “a lot of assistance” and doing “a great job” to help free trafficked Malaysians.

Abdullah also released a social media post saying as many as 148 Malaysian victims have been reported and 118 have been rescued in Cambodia.

“I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, and also deputy prime minister Prak Sokhonn, my colleagues, the Cambodian Government and the royal police of Malaysia for their close cooperation in the efforts of rescue the victims of these syndicates,” he said.

He advised Malaysian citizens to be aware of ‘too good to be true’ job offers abroad and to make contact with the Malaysian Embassy in the country concerned if they had doubts regarding the offered position.

He said that many Malaysians visit the Kingdom to work or do business, but in recent years, a small number had fallen victim to ‘scam job offers’.

Sokhonn reassured his Malaysian counterpart that Cambodia was ready to work with the Malaysian Embassy in Phnom Penh to prevent and fight against these crimes.