KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia on Sunday handed over 121 Thai nationals released from detention to Thailand under a pardon given in conjunction with the upcoming 60th anniversary of the Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne.
Those Thai nationals had been held at immigration depots in various places in Malaysia for less than a year for offenses such as entering the country illegally and working without a permit.
The 78 men and 43 women were handed over to Thai authorities at a brief ceremony at the Thai immigration complex in Danok of southern Thailand, reported the Bernama news agency.
At the ceremony, the Malaysian representative was Paduka Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, Parliamentary Secretary to the Home Affairs Ministry, while the Thai government representative was Wantanee Watanat, wife of Thailand's Chief of Police Kowit Watanat.
Wantanee, who spoke through an interpreter, said the Thai government is thankful to Malaysia for the pardon, adding the gesture is a symbol of good bilateral relations. Enditem
