Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
Some of them were sent to detention camps while others sought refuge at the
Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
<p>Indonesian worker Rutanor Rokim, his wife Susulis Wati and their eight-month-old
baby girl, who showed up at the Shahbandar Jetty in Malacca yesterday, could
not leave the country although they had ferry tickets.</p>
<p>They were part of the 30 people and two babies detained by state immigration
officers.</p>
<p>Rutanor, 31, whose work permit expired in November, said he could not leave
during the amnesty period because his employer had only paid his salary on Monday
night.</p>
<p>Some of the illegal immigrants were also stranded at the KL International Airport
in Sepang when they could not board a flight home.</p>
<p>Putra Hasan of Surabaya and his friend, who wanted to be known only as Yatno,
were supposed to leave on the 10.20am flight but were not allowed to do so.</p>
<p>Putra, 25, was a restaurant worker in Klang while Yatno, 31, was a factory
worker in Puchong.</p>
<p>Both of them chose to take refuge at the Indonesian Embassy until the matter
was sorted out.</p>
<p>An immigration officer said since the crackdown began yesterday, the illegal
foreign workers had no choice but to turn themselves in.</p>
<p>According to a travel and tour operator in Klang, the illegal immigrants were
scrambling to book tickets to leave for home.</p>
<p>"Now they have realised their mistake of interpreting Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi as a request for an extension of amnesty," said K.P. Samy.</p>
<p>"Since morning, my office staff have been getting calls from illegal foreign
workers to book flights out of the country," he said.</p>
<p>"Even those who had cancelled their flight bookings on Monday came forward
to rebook tickets," he added.</p>
<p>He said another group of illegal workers, especially Indian nationals, managed
to book flights on Monday evening after realising the Government was serious
about the crackdown on illegal immigrants.</p>
<p>"This group of about 30 workers checked in early and spent the night at
KLIA before taking a morning flight to Chennai," said Samy.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com