Last Thursday I read a report in the NST about two Malaysian still stuck in Saudi Arabia and sympathised with their predicaments. I was emotionally moved when I read the comment of Francis Ng Wai Kong, ” Sometimes, I wonder if anybody is bothered.”
I decided to move an emergency motion in Parliament to highlight their predicaments. I want to let them know, we care. However, the Speaker rejected the motion on the grounds that the Foreign Ministry was looking into the matter and the case is before the judiciary of Saudi Arabia.
I hope Francis Ng and Victor Hoo Kim Swee would be reunited with their families in Johore.
Below is the notice to move the emergency motion.
14hb April 2007.

Yang Di-Pertua
Dewan Rakyat
Parlimen Malaysia.

Yang Berhormat Tan Sri,

Per: Usul Di Bawah Peraturan Mesyuarat 18(1).
Sukacita saya memberi notis untuk membawa suatu usul di bawah Peraturan 18(1) seperti berikut:

“Bahawa Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Ahli Dewan Rakyat Kawasan Tanjong ingin mencadangkan supaya ditangguhkan Majlis Mesyuarat dengan tujuan hendak merundingkan perkara tertentu berkenaan kepentingan orang ramai yang berkehendak disegerakan.

Mengikut laporan akhbar NST pada 12 April 2007, dua rakyat Malaysia Francis Ng Wai Kong dan Victor Hoo Kim Swee telah ditahan dan terperangkap di Arab Saudi sejak 100 hari lalu kerana salah faham berhubung urusan perniagaan.

Siasatan awal mendapati masalah berpunca daripada pertikaian dalam urusan perniagaan dan penahanan dua rakyat Malaysia itu dilakukan secara tidak sah.

Pejabat Konsulat Malaysia di Jeddah dikatakan sedang bekerjasama dengan pihak berkuasa Arab Saudi bagi membawa pulang dua rakyat Malaysia. Akan tetapi, mereka berdua masih terperangkap dan hidup dengan serba berkurangan di sebuah bilik kecil di Pejabat Konsulat Malaysia.

Sudah melebihi 100 hari mereka terperangkap dan tidak ada pihak yang minat mendapat penyelesaian.

“Sometimes, I wonder if anybody is bothered” Francis Ng Wai Kong memberitahu NST pada minggu yang lepas. “We feel like captives and we are emotionally drained,” mereka mengadu.

Parlimen Malaysia dan kerajaan Malaysia harus menunjukkan sikap “We Care” tentang penderitaan rakyat Malaysia yang terperangkap di luar negara.

Ini perkara tertentu yang berkenaan kepentingan orang ramai yang berkehendak disegerakan supaya kedua rakyat Malaysia ini dapat dibawa pulang dengan kadar segera.”

Sekian, terima kasih.

Yang benar,

Chow Kon Yeow
Ahli Dewan Rakyat
Kawasan Tanjong

This is the NST report on 12 April 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: One hundred days and still counting. Two Malaysian
businessmen have been stuck in Saudi Arabia since January, and they still
have no idea when they will be able to come home.
“Today marks the 100th day we have been here and nobody seems keen to
seek a solution.
“Sometimes, I wonder if anybody is bothered,” Francis Ng Wai Kong told
the New Straits Times yesterday.
The 54-year-old and his colleague, Victor Hoo Kim Swee, had gone to
Jeddah on Jan 3 on a routine business trip, at the invitation of their
client who sponsored their entry visas.
Ng and the 32-year-old Hoo work for an engine parts manufacturer in
Johor. The company has lodged reports with the police and Wisma Putra.
On their arrival, the client took their passports, supposedly to apply
for their exit visas. Then, out of the blue, the client claimed there was
a dispute and demanded more than RM250,000.
“We were told that if we didn’t pay we wouldn’t be able to leave the
country,” Ng said.
They were supposed to come home on Jan 7 but they are still stuck in
Jeddah, living in a back room provided by the embassy, surviving on
instant noodles and mineral water.
“Our two-week visa expired in January and the client was holding our
travel documents. So, we live here as illegal immigrants,” Ng said,
adding that the embassy had said they could not intervene in a trade
dispute.
But luckily for the two, Islamic Development Bank director Datuk Dr
Mohd Ghazali Mohd Nor introduced them to a London-based lawyer who took
their case to the Civil Rights Bureau which told the client to hand their
passports to the bureau.
“But now we are told that the person who sponsored our entry visas must
arrange for our exit passes,” said Ng.
So, they are back to square one.
The pair said they felt like captives.
“We are emotionally drained. I haven’t even seen my new baby and we
missed celebrating Chinese New year with our families,” Hoo said.
Ng said they were fortunate that family and friends contacted them
regularly to keep their spirits up.
“But for how long this will continue remains anybody’s guess.”
(END)