
Indonesian, Malaysian ambassadors throw weight behind Cambodia's online scam crackdown
His Malaysian counterpart has also shared his support for the Kingdom's efforts to rescue trafficking victims from online scam centres.
The current operation to dismantle online scam networks in Cambodia is going ahead full steam, with approximately 3,000 people arrested. The latest bust saw over 160 individuals taken into custody in two provinces on July 21.
Santo met with Chhay Sinarith, who leads the secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission to Combat Online Scams, on the morning of July 21, according to the Ministry of Information.
During the meeting, Sinarith noted that online scams are a widespread issue which affects many countries. He reiterated the government's strong commitment and determination to combat such crimes. He informed the ambassador of Cambodia's resolve to eliminate technology-based scams nationwide and stressed the importance of international cooperation in these joint efforts.
Santo agreed that technology-based scams are a global issue, adding that the Indonesian embassy in Cambodia is always ready to provide support and cooperation to Cambodia's efforts.
On the same day, Sinarith met with Shaharuddin bin Onn, Malaysian ambassador to Cambodia. Both parties discussed Cambodia's efforts to crack down on online scams.
According to the information ministry, the ambassador 'expressed confidence in the Royal Government's commitment and efforts to eliminate technology-based scams and thanked the Cambodian government for rescuing Malaysian citizens in the past'.
He also affirmed that the Malaysian embassy and government will provide support and cooperation for Cambodia's endeavours.
The latest crackdowns occurred on July 21, when Siem Reap provincial authorities raided a rented villa and arrested 13 Nepalese nationals in Knar Village, Chreav Commune, Siem Reap City.
On the same day, authorities in Mondulkiri province dismantled an online scam operation in Puchab village, Dak Dam commune, O'Raing district, detaining a total of 149 individuals of 13 different nationalities.
Indonesian ambassador Santo Darmosumarto has expressed his gratitude to the Cambodian government and its authorities for their cooperation in rescuing Indonesian citizens from scam operations and facilitating their return to their home country.
His Malaysian counterpart has also shared his support for the Kingdom's efforts to rescue trafficking victims from online scam centres.
The current operation to dismantle online scam networks in Cambodia is going ahead full steam, with approximately 3,000 people arrested. The latest bust saw over 160 individuals taken into custody in two provinces on July 21.
Santo met with Chhay Sinarith, who leads the secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission to Combat Online Scams, on the morning of July 21, according to the Ministry of Information.
During the meeting, Sinarith noted that online scams are a widespread issue which affects many countries.
He reiterated the government's strong commitment and determination to combat such crimes. He informed the ambassador of Cambodia's resolve to eliminate technology-based scams nationwide and stressed the importance of international cooperation in these joint efforts.
Santo agreed that technology-based scams are a global issue, adding that the Indonesian embassy in Cambodia is always ready to provide support and cooperation to Cambodia's efforts.
On the same day, Sinarith met with Shaharuddin bin Onn, Malaysian ambassador to Cambodia. Both parties discussed Cambodia's efforts to crack down on online scams.
According to the information ministry, the ambassador 'expressed confidence in the Royal Government's commitment and efforts to eliminate technology-based scams and thanked the Cambodian government for rescuing Malaysian citizens in the past'.
He also affirmed that the Malaysian embassy and government will provide support and cooperation for Cambodia's endeavours.
The latest crackdowns occurred on July 21, when Siem Reap provincial authorities raided a rented villa and arrested 13 Nepalese nationals in Knar Village, Chreav Commune, Siem Reap City.
On the same day, authorities in Mondulkiri province dismantled an online scam operation in Puchab village, Dak Dam commune, O'Raing district, detaining a total of 149 individuals of 13 different nationalities. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
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New Straits Times
2 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Thailand rejects international mediation to end fighting with Cambodia
BANGKOK: Thailand has rejected mediation efforts from third countries to end its ongoing conflict with Cambodia, insisting that Phnom Penh cease attacks and resolve the situation only through bilateral talks, its foreign ministry said today. Simmering border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have flared into open hostilities at multiple locations along the frontline, with exchanges of artillery for a second straight day. At least 16 people, most of them Thai civilians, have died so far in the heaviest fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in over a decade. The United States, China and Malaysia, which is the current chair of the Asean regional bloc, have offered to facilitate dialogue but Bangkok is seeking a bilateral solution to the conflict, Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told Reuters. "I don't think we need any mediation from a third country yet," Nikorndej said in an interview. Cambodia and Thailand accuse each other of starting the conflict early on Thursday at a disputed site, which quickly escalated from small arms fire to heavy shelling along a border where sovereignty has been disputed for more than a century. "We stand by our position that bilateral mechanism is the best way out, this is a confrontation between the two countries," Nikorndej said, adding that the Cambodian side must stop violence along the border first. "Our doors are still open." Cambodia's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its Prime Minister Hun Manet asked the United Nations Security Council on Thursday to convene a meeting on the issue, condemning what he called "unprovoked and premeditated military aggression" by Thailand. The body has said it will hold a closed-door meeting to discuss the issue today. The fighting broke out a day after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh on Wednesday and expelled Cambodia's envoy, in response to landmine explosions that injured Thai soldiers. Thai authorities allege the mines had been laid recently by Cambodia, a charge dismissed by Phnom Penh as baseless. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the chair of 10-nation Asean of which both Thailand and Cambodia are members, said on Thursday he had spoken to the leaders of both countries and urged them to find a peaceful resolution. "If the Asean family wants to facilitate a return to constructive bilateral negotiations, that's welcome as well," Nikorndej said.
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Rakyat Post
2 minutes ago
- Rakyat Post
[Watch] Diving Trip From Hell: Malaysian Instructor Arrested After Slapping Tourists Over Oxygen Tank Accident
Subscribe to our FREE What was supposed to be a peaceful diving trip to Malaysia's pristine waters ended with police arrests, viral videos, and a diving centre scrambling to distance itself from an instructor gone rogue. The drama unfolded on 22 July in Semporna, Sabah, when a group of tourists, including Taiwanese visitors, were heading to During the boat ride, an oxygen tank accidentally fell over due to the vessel's movement, striking the foot of a 38-year-old Malaysian diving instructor. That's when things went sideways. When Accidents Turn Ugly Instead of treating it as the accident it was, the instructor decided to make it everyone else's problem. After getting his injured foot treated at Tawau Hospital, he returned to the diving centre the next day, demanding compensation from the tourist whose equipment had fallen. What happened next was caught on camera and quickly went viral across social media platforms. The video shows the instructor confronting the tourists outside the Quality Diving Centre in Semporna. In the footage, you can see him slapping the foreign tourist while arguing with what appears to be a female companion. The entire exchange happens in Mandarin, with the slapped tourist asking someone off-camera, 'Did you call the police?' while the woman repeatedly asks the instructor, 'What does this have to do with us?' Staff members can be seen trying to intervene and separate the parties, but the damage was already done. The Diving Centre's Damage Control Quality Diving Centre quickly distanced itself from the instructor. In a lengthy Facebook statement posted the day after the incident, the company made it crystal clear: this guy wasn't even their employee. 'The instructor involved was not wearing a uniform and is not an employee of our company,' the diving centre stated, adding that all their actual staff wear uniforms. They detailed how they immediately tried to defuse the situation by separating the groups onto different boats and scheduling their return times at different intervals to avoid further conflict. The company also revealed that when the instructor showed up at their shop the morning after the boat incident, the owner, described as over 60 years old and not fluent in Malay, immediately tried to get him to leave. When the instructor refused and the assault occurred, the staff called the police. We strongly condemn acts of violence. If this had been our employee, they would have been immediately terminated. Police Step In Semporna police didn't mess around. Acting District Police Chief Deputy Superintendent Jaafar Hakim confirmed they received a report on 23 July at 10:46 AM about the assault and intimidation. The instructor was arrested and is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code (voluntarily causing hurt) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation). Police are calling for witnesses to come forward with any additional information about the incident. Lessons That Make Destinations Better Semporna, Chinese tourists, particularly those from Sichuan, are renowned for their contributes to the vibrant culinary scene in Semporna. But when things go wrong—as they inevitably do in any adventure tourism—the response can make or break not just individual businesses but entire regional reputations. The moral of the story? Sometimes accidents are just accidents. And when they're not treated that way, everyone ends up underwater – just not in the good way. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Assistant Investigation Officer Sergeant Nurfazlina at 019-8011009 or the Semporna Police Station at 089-782020. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.

The Star
32 minutes ago
- The Star
Thailand warns of war with Cambodia as US calls for ceasefire
BANGKOK: Thailand's acting leader warned that the armed military conflict with neighbouring Cambodia could "potentially develop into a war' as troops used rockets and artillery to shell targets along their contested border for a second day. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters on Friday (July 25) that the severity of the clashes was escalating, endangering civilian lives, and Thailand was committed to defending its territory and sovereignty. "This situation could potentially develop into a war. At present, it is still considered an armed clash involving heavy weaponry,' Phumtham said. Thailand's government has put the latest death toll from the deadliest clashes in more than a decade at 14, including a soldier, with more than three dozen people injured. One Cambodian civilian was killed and five others injured in the clashes, Agence France-Presse reported, citing a provincial administration official. 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The neighbours share a long history of border tensions, though relations have remained largely stable since a deadly 2011 conflict that left dozens dead. The last major flare-up centred on the Preah Vihear temple, a longstanding flashpoint dating back to the French colonial era. Much of the current dispute stems from maps drawn on differing interpretations of early 20th-century Franco-Siamese treaties, which defined the border between Thailand and Cambodia, then part of French Indochina. A prolonged military conflict would add to multiple economic challenges for both nations, including the US threat to impose stiff tariffs. Unlike neighbouring Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam - which have secured trade agreements with the Trump administration - export-reliant Thailand has yet to reach a deal. Given the risks to Thailand's local economy and tourism, a vital contributor to the economy, Bangkok may have more reasons to end the conflict as soon as possible, said Trinh Nguyen, Natixis senior economist for emerging Asia. "We expect de-escalation to take place after aggressive actions,' Trinh said. "External risks are rising and Thailand cannot afford to derail already weak tourism and soft growth.' Cambodia's economic growth was already expected to slow, according to a July 17 report by Maybank Securities Pte., which noted the country's dependence on the US is the highest in Asean, at 38 per cent of nominal exports or 21 per cent of GDP. The country also has more than half a million workers in Thailand, according to official estimates, though Maybank said undocumented migrants could push that number closer to 1.2 million people. Officials in Thailand's Chanthaburi and Trat provinces said some 2,000 Cambodian migrant workers have gathered at a checkpoint to return home. Thai exports to Cambodia totaled US$5.1 billion in the first half of 2025, including jewelry, oil and sugar, with US$732 million of imports, mostly fruit and vegetables, according to the Thai Commerce Ministry. The clashes have adversely affected economic confidence and disrupted trade and investment between the two countries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce said in a statement on Thursday. Thailand said it has evacuated more than 130,000 civilians from conflict zones. Cambodia has closed 260 schools in the province of Oddar Meanchey, the centre of the conflict, the Khmer Times reported. The fighting has drawn condemnation from world leaders, with the US saying it is gravely concerned. "The United States urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians, and a peaceful resolution of the conflict,' State Department deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott told reporters in Washington on Thursday. While Thailand has ruled out bilateral talks and signaled no immediate plan to cease the military actions, a drawn-out conflict poses fresh challenges to leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who had already been suspended as prime minister for her handling of the border dispute. Her Pheu Thai-led coalition has been on the brink after the defection of a key party last month left it with a slender majority. Thai nationalist groups, who had initially planned an anti-government rally for Sunday, have pushed it back to Aug. 2. Posts supporting the Thai army and air force are trending on X and Facebook in Thailand. - Bloomberg ALSO READ: