Sam Rainsy lands in Malaysia as Hun Sen’s government vows to ‘destroy him’

The opposition figure flew from Paris to Malaysia en route to Cambodia for rallies against strongman Hun Sen

He was earlier blocked from boarding a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok, in a move he said was orchestrated ‘from high up’

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Cambodian opposition figure Sam Rainsy at a Paris airport late on Friday. Photo: Facebook

Published: 2:05pm, 9 Nov 2019Updated: 10:48pm, 9 Nov 2019

Self-exiled Cambodian opposition figure Sam Rainsy landed in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday after promising to return home to rally opponents of authoritarian ruler Hun Sen.

“Keep up the hope. We are on the right track,” Rainsy said on arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in a message to supporters. “Democracy will prevail. Democracy has prevailed in Malaysia. Democracy will prevail in Cambodia.”

Asked whether he planned to return to Cambodia he said: “I cannot say anything. I do not deny, I do not confirm.”

The veteran opposition figure had planned to return to Cambodia on Saturday, Independence Day, in what Prime Minister Hun Sen characterised as an attempted coup against his rule of more than three decades.

If he comes to cause instability and chaos, we will destroy him.

Phay Siphan, government spokesperson

But Rainsy was blocked from boarding a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok on Thursday. He and other leaders of his banned opposition party have said they want to return to Cambodia by crossing the land border with Thailand. Malaysia and Cambodia do not share a border.