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Media Statement
by Chow Kon Yeow
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(Kuala Lumpur, Thursday) : It is regrettable that two Malaysian citizens are still being deprived of their human rights over a commercial dispute with a Saudi Arabian company. 

The duo, Francis Ng Wai Kong and Victor Hoo Kim Swee are unable to return to Malaysia since January 2007 because their passports have been detained. 

Worse still, they were ordered out of the Malaysian Consul-General office in Jeddah at midnight on 6 May 2007. Until now the Foreign Ministry has been keeping mum over this unfortunate incident. 

The Malaysian government and Foreign Ministry should reclassify the case as a case of violation of the human rights of Malaysians who have their freedom of movement restricted and prevented from going back to their home country. 

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar should direct the Malaysian Consul-General in Jeddah, Syed Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman to treat the case as a violation of the human rights of two Malaysians and do everything possible to secure their early return to Malaysia. 

As the problem involved a dispute between a Saudi Arabia company and two Malaysian companies, Syarikat Season Growth and Syarikat Akebono, it should be resolved according to commercial and contract laws of that country. 

The Saudi Arabian company should seek remedy in a commercial and civil court and they cannot take laws into their own hands by illegally restricting the free movement of the two Malaysians who are merely servants and agents of the Malaysian companies.  

It is regrettable that the Malaysian Consul General in Jeddah, Syed Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman had taken upon himself to be a judge in this case by ordering the Malaysian companies to give in to the full demand of the Saudi Arabian company.  

It is pertinent for the Malaysian government and Foreign Minister to secure the return of Francis Ng and Victor Hoo soonest as they are now considered overstayers and may be detained as illegal immigrants in this foreign land.

(17/5/2007)