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?
Everyone remembered her then as frail, teary eyed and scared.
<p>Yesterday was different as the young lady, clad in a pink and white baju kurung,
beamed with confidence as she posed for cameramen outside the courtroom.</p>
<p>She looked healthier. She had gained a few pounds, her short baby curls were
gone. She now has straight shoulder-length hair. She even wore a gold necklace.</p>
<p>Taking the stand for the first time, Nirmala, 21, answered all questions confidently
during examination-in-chief by DPP Raja Rozela Raja Toran.</p>
<p>Nirmala displayed no fear when asked by Raja Rozela to identify her employer’s
husband Hii Ik Ting.</p>
<p>She told the court that she had come to Malaysia on her own free will as she
had wanted to gain working experience. She had undergone more than two months
training in housekeeping and baby-sitting, before starting work for Hii and
his 38-year-old wife Yim Pek Ha.</p>
<p>"I was taught how to use electrical appliances like the iron, water heater,
fridge and washing machine," she said.</p>
<p>Nirmala was 19 when she was allegedly abused by Yim.</p>
<p>She told police that Yim pressed a hot iron to her breasts for not ironing
a pair of trousers to her satisfaction, poured boiling water on her after she
broke a cup, and hit her on the head with hard objects when she was unhappy
with her work.</p>
<p>Yim, 38, a mother of four, was also charged under Section 325 of the Penal
code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt.</p>
<p>She is alleged to have committed all four offences at her home at No. 33B-25-6,
Villa Putera, Jalan Tun Ismail, Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur, in January, March,
April, and May 15, 2004.</p>
<p>Trial continues today.
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