The Ministry for Foreign Affairs yesterday ordered the Kingdom’s ambassador to Malaysia, Princess Norodom Arun Rasmey, to request the release of about 300 Cambodian workers detained in the Malaysian state of Selangor.

The document, sent by Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary of State Long Visalo on July 27, is in response to a July 20 letter by the opposition requesting action to free the men, women and children locked up since April.

“There are now about 300 Cambodian workers detained in Selangor state of Malaysia which most of them are Cambodian-Muslim,” Visalo writes. “The ministry requests the [ambassador] to determine the number of Cambodian migrant workers detained in Malaysia, around 300 people, and intervene.”

Speaking yesterday, Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmaker Son Chhay welcomed Visalo’s response but called for more work to help citizens abroad.

CNRP parliamentarian Mu Sochua, also pushing for the group’s release, said both governments needed to find a solution to protect and register undocumented workers in Malaysia, a figure she said could be as high as 40,000.