What recognition is due to the first journalists who uncovered Wang Kelian atrocities?

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Recognition Due to Journalists Who First Uncovered Wang Kelian Atrocities

S. Arulldas, a former Malay Mail journalist, asserts that he and his photographer, Sayuti Zainudin, deserve full recognition as the first to expose the migrant prison camps and mass graves in Wang Kelian, Perlis, a discovery made on March 9, 2015, after significant personal risk. Arulldas voiced his frustration that recent reports, including an announcement of a Royal Commission of Inquiry, have failed to acknowledge their pioneering efforts, instead attributing the discovery to police in May 2015.
Pioneering Investigation and Exposure

Arulldas and Sayuti embarked on their investigation in December 2014, initially looking into illegal immigrant issues in Perlis. During a break in Jitra, they overheard local residents discussing large human-trafficking camps in Wang Kelian. Despite initial failed attempts to reach the jungle sites due to the challenging terrain and risk of getting lost, they persisted. On May 13, with assistance from two Thai individuals, they successfully accessed the sites through the Padang Besar checkpoint, a journey that involved considerable personal danger.
Extensive Reporting and Claims of Credit

Throughout their investigative period, Arulldas and Sayuti produced over 100 special reports detailing the inhumane practices of human-trafficking syndicates and the plight of migrants. At the time of their reporting, Malay Mail published numerous stories that clearly stated the discovery and exposure of these sites, claims that went unchallenged. However, Arulldas noted that another local English daily has since claimed credit for being the initial entity to expose the Wang Kelian atrocities.
Acknowledged Achievements and Awards

The significance of Arulldas and Sayuti's work was formally recognised in 2015 when they received two prestigious awards. They were honoured with an Outstanding Reporting award from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and a Best Investigative Report award from the Malaysian Press Institute-Petronas Awards. These accolades specifically acknowledged their efforts in exposing the migrant prison camps and mass graves in Wang Kelian, underscoring the critical nature of their journalistic endeavour.

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What recognition is due to the first journalists who uncovered Wang Kelian atrocities?

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