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?
Darman (left), 35, from Lombok Timur, was found at about 6.50pm, nearly three
hours after he was buried.
<p>The deceased’s friend and fellow worker Celsend, 20, from Sabah said he
was working about 100 metres from the scene when the landslide occurred.</p>
<p>“I heard someone screaming ‘it’s a landslide, your friend is buried’,”
he told malaysiakini while waiting for rescuers to find the body.</p>
<p>Looking anxious, he said he knew Darman for several years as they had worked
together at a construction site in Shah Alam.</p>
<p>“He has been working in Malaysia for several years,” Celsend added.</p>
<p>A site supervisor who only wished to be identified as Din said the project
at the site is for the Bukit Tenaga apartment.</p>
<p>“We are building 200 units. The contractor is Peter’s Construction.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2007,” he told reporters.</p>
<p><b>Happened suddenly</b></p>
<p>Din revealed that over 30 workers, mostly Indonesians, are working at the site.</p>
<p>Denying any negligence for the mishap, he said, “we have the necessary
safety measures here but the landslide happened all of a sudden”.</p>
<p>Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operation) Md Ali
Ismail (left) who led the rescue team of 21 personnel reasoned that the landslide
probably occurred because the hill slope was cut at too narrow an angle.</p>
<p>He said the police will have to investigate whether the landslide was due to
negligence.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Seputeh parliamentarian Teresa Kok urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall
to issue a stop-work order at the site until steps are in place to prevent such
a tragedy from recurring.</p>
<p>“I understand that there was another landslide near this construction
site three months ago,” she said after witnessing rescue work in the area
which is part of her constituency.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com