INTERVIEW | After living in exile for four years, Sam Rainsy wants to return to Cambodia to confront Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been ruling the nation with an iron fist for more than three decades.

The 70-year-old opposition veteran and former cabinet minister, whose party Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRC) has been outlawed, cited Malaysia as his inspiration.

"We look up to Malaysia as a model. Malaysia has inspired and set an example for us. Malaysia managed to bring about democratic change," he told Malaysiakini in an interview in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.