Compiled by BENJAMIN LEE, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN
A MALAYSIAN human trafficking victim’s plea for help on the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister’s Facebook page not only led to her rescue but also the arrest of five suspects involved in running the syndicate, Sin Chew Daily reported.
According to a spokesperson from the Cambodian Interior Ministry, a Malaysian woman reported on Sar Kheng’s Facebook page that she was held captive by a group of Chinese nationals in the coastal city of Sihanoukville.
She claimed to have paid a ransom of US$7,000 (RM31,000) but ended up being sold to a different syndicate, the spokesperson said on Aug 24.
Upon the order of the Deputy Prime Minister himself, local police conducted a raid on premises belonging to the human traffickers and rescued the woman.
They also arrested five Chinese nationals believed to be running the syndicate, and are currently looking for others involved in it.
The spokesperson from the ministry added that after being rescued, the woman claimed that she had suffered a loss of US$90,000 (RM404,000) and two mobile phones.
She pleaded with the police to help her recover her money and send her back to Malaysia.
> Despite her young age, Malaysian teenager Sarah Hii made the country proud by emerging second at the prestigious 2022 Water Cube Cup overseas Chinese youth singing contest.
Sin Chew Daily also reported that the 14-year-old was awarded 9.850 points for her rendition of Shui Yao (Water Demon), just 0.05 points lower than the champion, Liu Qinghan of Germany.
Sarah, who is from Riam Hill International Secondary School in Miri, Sarawak, took part in the final on Aug 22, which was held online due to the pandemic.
An elated Sarah thanked the Association of Malaysia Chinese Artistes, her music teachers, as well as her family for their support.
In an earlier interview, Sarah said her favourite musician was King of Mandopop Jay Chou, adding that she loved that he could write his own songs.
In 2016, Malaysian singer Vanessa Reynauld (then only 16) also won the silver medal in the same competition, beating some 60 young aspirants from 42 other countries.
Two years before that, then 15-year-old Penangite Jeryl Lee Pei Ling was the champion. The win launched her music career.
The Water Cube Cup singing contest for overseas Chinese youth is held to commemorate the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and to promote cultural exchanges between China and young people from other countries.
> The daily also reported that Taiwanese TV host Dee Hsu refused to comment on photos showing her husband Mike Hsu cuddling multiple women at a nightclub after they surfaced online.
“My husband is not a public figure, so I will not comment on any issues about him. Thank you,” Dee told a reporter.
It was reported that the paparazzi got hold of photos of Mike frequenting nightclubs in the company of women.
Shortly after that, Dee replied to the reporter, posting pictures of the entire family, including Mike, on social media.
Dee and Mike married in 2005, and they have three daughters together.
● The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.