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?
Suhakam commissioner Mohd Hamdan Adnan, who visited the centre as part of an
outreach programme on Saturday, said the detainees were being held for violating
immigration regulations.
<p>"They said they had been misled…that they had paid much money for their
work permits to be extended but only came to realise these were fakes when apprehended
by the authorities.</p>
<p>"Worse, they said they could not contact or trace their agents as most
of them have gone missing," he added.</p>
<p>Other complaints were that agents or employers were holding the detainees’
passports and that the remand period was causing the detainees much misery.</p>
<p>"We urge the relevant authorities to take stern action against the culprits
who have lied to the foreign workers.</p>
<p>"These unscrupulous agents and employers have contributed to tarnishing
and smearing our country’s image," said the commissioner.</p>
<p><b>Poor health</b></p>
<p>Currently, there are 156 detainees from 12 different countries – 92 males and
60 females – at the centre. There are five children and four infants.</p>
<p>Hamdan said the visit was conducted in response to complaints about the poor
health and ‘death’ of detainees.</p>
<p>"But we found out that the (sole) death was due to an accident the detainee
had sustained before being taken to the centre. Some are suffering from skin
disease," he explained.</p>
<p>"According to the authorities, a local health department officer visits
the centre twice a month to check and treat detainees."</p>
<p>He added that one detainee had alleged that police personnel had extorted money
from him, and then arrested him for bribery when he handed over the money.</p>
<p><i>SUSAN LOONE is malaysiakini’s Penang-based stringer.</i>
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