"Migrant workers stranded in Malaysia plead to return", 28 May 2020

Some Cambodian migrant workers stuck in Malaysia after flights were cancelled … said they received some support from the Cambodian embassy, but they are looking forward to returning home because work is scarce.

Ham Saly from Kampong Cham told … that he spent more than MYR 1,000 ($230) … to buy a ticket home but his flight was cancelled.

He then returned to Kelantan state with five fellow Cambodians. He said he lost his job as a construction worker and now does whatever job possible just to survive.

“I want to return to Cambodia, but now I am not allowed. I don’t know what to do now besides looking for any small job I can find. When I am allowed to go back, I will just go,” he said…

Toulors Mansort, also a native of Kampong Cham, said he had been in Malaysia for three years. After working in construction for some time, he decided to stop and chose to sell drinking water at construction sites. But he has been jobless for four months now…

He said he was looking forward to information from the embassy about when he could return to Cambodia.

“Until now, I don’t hear anything, but I really want to go back home because staying here I have to spend a lot, such as for electricity and water. Now, I am jobless since all jobs are closed,” he said.

The Cambodian embassy in Malaysia could not be reached for comment … on how many nationals were stranded…