Cambodia–Malaysia relations

Cambodia–Malaysia relations

Cambodia
Malaysia

Cambodia–Malaysia relations (Khmer: ទំនាក់ទំនងរវាងកម្ពុជានិងម៉ាឡេស៊ី; Malay: Hubungan Kemboja–Malaysia) are foreign relations between Cambodia and Malaysia. Both countries are members of ASEAN. Cambodia has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur,[1] and Malaysia has an embassy in Phnom Penh.[2]

History

Relations between Cambodia and Malaysia were established on 31 August 1957. From 1969–1975, the Malaysian embassy in Beijing was accredited to Cambodia. The Malaysian embassy in Phnom Penh was closed after the Khmer Rouge regime reached the capital and took power in 1975. It was re-opened on 26 November 1991 following the signing of the Paris Peace Accord on 23 October 1991 and establishment of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia.[3][4]

Since then, the relations grew after both countries decide to discover other potential of economic co-operation.[5] The relations were also supported by Malaysian King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ibni Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail and Cambodian King Sihanouk.[5]

Economic relations

A total of 64,534 Cambodians visited Malaysia in 2013,[6] while Malaysian visitors to Cambodia numbered 54,000.[7] In 2011, bilateral trade between the two countries was worth over US$319.5 million and in 2010 Malaysia was considered one of the biggest investors in the country with total investments of U$2.19 billion while Malaysian investments in Cambodia during the previous two years totalled U$118 million.[7][8] In 2015, trade between the two countries amounted to $385.8 million, with Malaysia recorded $234.5 million in exports and $151.3 million in imports with Cambodia. In the same year, Malaysia became the fifth largest investor in Cambodia, with more than 150 Malaysian companies operating or having business interests. To increase the continuous business co-operation between companies in the two countries, a memorandum of understanding was signed.[9]

Domestic workers ill-treatment issues

Cambodia is known as another source of domestic workers for Malaysia after Indonesia decided to stop sending their maids in 2016 due to frequent reports of abuse,[10] although they started to send their maids again in 2017.[11] Cambodians were not exempt from similar treatment, and many of their maids were also treated badly by their Malaysian employers or immigration officers who had their documents held for years after been cheated by recruitment agents in the country.[12][13][14] A report in 2016 stated that a Cambodian maid detained in one of Malaysian immigration centre saw three women of Cambodian and Vietnamese nationalities die there after been severely tortured, with other nationalities like Thai, Indonesian and Laotian prisoners badly tortured as well.[15] Previously in 2012, one Cambodian maid died after been starved to death by her employer.[16] Since 2011, Cambodia has banned its domestic workers from travelling to Malaysia.[17] The issues led to protest and criticism from various human rights groups in Cambodia who demanded the Cambodian government stop sending domestic workers until Malaysia adhered strictly to human rights,[18] although many Cambodians continued to explore job opportunities, mainly as domestic workers, in the hope of earning more money than they could at their home country.[19] Following negotiation between the two countries government, Cambodia lifted the ban for its workers to going to Malaysia, with Malaysia also legalising any Cambodians maid working illegally in the country.[20][21] In 2017, five Cambodian domestic workers were repatriated from Malaysia for working illegally.[17] Responding to the frequent maid abuse cases in Malaysia, the Malaysian Human Resource Ministry has released a "Guidelines and Tips for Employers of Foreign Domestic Helpers" to promote more cordial relationships and understanding between employers and their maids while minimising unpleasant incidents.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cambodia. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Official Website of Embassy of Malaysia, Phnom Penh". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cambodia. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  4. ↑ "The Mission's History". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 Siti Aishah Mohamad (16 December 2002). "Cooperation Between Malaysia And Cambodia Brings Tangible Benefits". Malaysian National News Agency, Cambodia Human Rights. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  7. 1 2 Kun Makara (24 September 2012). "Malaysia-Cambodia trade increases". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "Cambodia, Malaysia pledge to further trade, investment relations". People's Daily Online. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  9. ↑ Prashanth Parameswaran (16 August 2016). "Can Malaysia and Cambodia Breathe New Life Into Economic Ties?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "No more Indonesian domestic workers to be sent abroad?". Rappler. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  11. ↑ Beh Lih Yi; Ros Russell (21 March 2017). "In U-turn decision, Indonesia to continue sending maids abroad to Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, etc". Reuters. Coconuts Singapore. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  12. ↑ Sek Odom (9 August 2016). "Government Repatriates 11 Migrant Workers From China, Malaysia". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  13. ↑ Pav Suy (23 November 2016). "More Cambodians Seek Help Returning Home". Khmer Times. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  14. ↑ Sen David (4 May 2017). "Migrant abuses: Maid seeks return from Malaysia". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  15. ↑ Zsombor Peter; Kuch Naren (15 August 2016). "Maids Claim Fatal Abuse at Malaysian Depot". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  16. ↑ Cassandra Yeap; Sen David (17 April 2012). "Malaysian couple charged in death of Cambodian maid". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  17. 1 2 Martin de Bourmont (17 May 2017). "Homecoming: Five maids in Malaysia repatriated". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  18. ↑ Zsombor Peter (4 April 2017). "Asean Lawmaker Group Slams Malaysia Over Migrant Detentions". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  19. ↑ Chhorn Phearun (6 April 2017). "Seventeen Cambodians Repatriated From Malaysia". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  20. ↑ "Cambodia’s ban on maid work in Malaysia could end soon". The Malay Mail. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  21. ↑ Joseph Kaos Jr (25 May 2017). "Cambodia lifts freeze on maids to Malaysia". The Star. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  22. ↑ "Treating foreign maids with respect — Sin Chew Daily". The Malay Mail. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
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