PHNOM PENH: Malaysia and Cambodia are looking forward to enhancing cooperation in various sectors to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said issues on investment, halal industry, digital technology, education and defence were raised during a bilateral meeting with his counterpart held at the Peace Palace here yesterday.
“Discussions were very elaborate and comprehensive ... touching on issues of trade and investments, which happen to be our priorities in our bilateral relations, as well as some other concerns,” he said at a joint press conference with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during his one-day official visit to Cambodia.
Earlier, Anwar and Hun Sen held bilateral meetings where they witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) between the Malaysian and Cambodian governments.
The MOU focuses on the recruitment, employment and repatriation of Cambodian workers in the domestic and formal sectors, and also seeks to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the labour sector, reported Bernama.
Anwar said that Malaysia was quite advanced in the halal industry, and this would allow Malaysia and Cambodia to use the facilities in order to encourage and facilitate exports to Muslim countries, particularly the Middle East.
Anwar also spoke of the success of rice production in Cambodia, where he would encourage Malaysian rice companies catering to the import of rice to consider the option of importing rice and cashew nuts from Cambodia.
“The (Cambodian) Prime Minister mentioned the success of rice production, which is commendable with surplus production.
“I know for a fact that rice production is not something easy, but they have managed to increase productivity,” he said.
Both countries, he added, had also agreed to take advantage of the availability of bamboo in Cambodia by getting investors to help in processing and exporting it.
“You (Hun Sen) have mentioned the issue of the need to continue training in other than government-to-government matters like defence and technical expertise and administration.
“On digital technology and education, we will of course be able to work together once a joint committee sits down, hopefully by the end of the year.
“I think it is Malaysia’s turn to host after a lapse (of) so many years,” he added.
Anwar also thanked Hun Sen for helping to get Malaysians who fell victim to job scams in Cambodia back to their home country.
He praised Hun Sen’s leadership for its “outstanding” assistance and collaboration in tackling the job scam issue.
“I must also express my thanks to the Prime Minister (Hun Sen) because Cambodia is one of the countries that is most forthcoming and helpful when we have to deal with job scam issues, which also affect 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 at the press conference.
It was reported that Wisma Putra had received 572 reports involving Malaysians who were victims of job scam syndicates abroad as at Feb 20 this year.
