'M'sia violated Cambodian's right to life with deportation'

Malaysia has violated a Cambodian domestic worker’s right to life by deporting her, said Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).

The human rights organisation said in a statement that Article 5 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, enshrining the right to life, should apply regardless of citizenship status.

“At the broader level, by deporting Nuon Toeun, Malaysia also plays an active role in creating an increasingly repressive socio-political environment in the Southeast Asian region, where state violence is legitimised, and people would no longer feel safe to practise their fundamental rights and advocate for justice for others,” said Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy.

Nuon, 36, who was employed here for several years as a domestic worker, was arrested by Malaysian authorities last week after a request by the Cambodian government, according to an Associated Press report.

The same report stated she is not an opposition leader or popular activist, but the Cambodian government recently expressed concerns about expatriates from the country supporting overseas critics.

The Cambodian government recently also arrested investigative journalist Mech Dara.

Sevan (above) added that the deportation makes the Madani government no better than the previous Perikatan Nasional administration, which deported Bangladeshi migrant worker Mohd Rayhan Kabir in 2020.

Rayhan, in a documentary, criticised how Malaysian authorities treated undocumented migrants.

Meanwhile, Sevan urged the government to implement a stance of “zero tolerance” on transnational repression with the following measures:

• releasing all defectors, human rights activists, refugees, and asylum seekers,

• addressing transnational repression at the regional level, and

• reforming immigration policy.

Deported worker criticised regime

According to Radio Free Asia, Nuon frequently took to social media to criticise the Cambodian regime.

She was also a supporter of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party.

“If I have sinned because I (have cursed) this despicable guy, I am happy to accept the sin because he has mistreated my people so badly,” she was quoted as saying about Cambodian Senate president Hun Sen.

Hun Sen is a former prime minister and the father of current Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.

Asean MPs: Free Cambodian journo who exposed scam compounds

Cambodia held ‘free, fair’ elections, new PM Hun Manet tells UN

Subang MP says Cambodian opposition figure was on private visit

Anwar unaware Cambodian opposition was in M'sia - ministry

Cambodian PM thanks Anwar for expelling his rival - report