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?
S. Suppaya said the dead workers, from Nepal and India, were employed at the
company’s factories in Kangkar Tebrau here and in Kulai.
<p>“I believe the deaths could have been due to the hazardous chemicals used
at the two factories, which produce computer parts,” he said.</p>
<p>Suppaya, a member of the Kulai Municipal Council health committee, said that
in the latest incident three days ago, an Indian national died after being admitted
to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital.</p>
<p>He claimed the doctor’s report stated that the worker suffered from tuberculosis.</p>
<p>The Kangkar Tebrau plant has about 6,000 workers while the Kulai factory employs
1,200.</p>
<p>Suppaya, who is also the Kulai MIC division deputy chairman, said a friend
told him about the deaths several days ago and he had since lodged a police
report on the matter.</p>
<p>He brought up the matter at the council meeting yesterday as he wanted the
health department to take samples from the factories for testing.</p>
<p>Suppaya alleged that there were six deaths, four of which occurred at the Kulai
plant and the other two at the Kangkar Tebrau factory.</p>
<p>When contacted, Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Ruslan Hassan said that police
had received only four reports of deaths this year involving foreign workers
at the Kulai plant.</p>
<p>He said a 21-year-old Nepalese worker died in his sleep at the workers’
quarters on March 17 while another Nepalese, aged 36, died on his way to the
hospital on Oct 2 after falling sick at his quarters.</p>
<p>The two incidents were categorised as “sudden deaths.”</p>
<p>ACP Ruslan said the other two reported deaths involved Indian nationals.</p>
<p>One died at a bus-stop outside the plant while waiting to go for a medical
check-up on June 6 and the other was found hanged on Nov 9 behind the factory.</p>
<p>The incidents involving the Indian nationals were also classified as “sudden
deaths.”</p>
<p>ACP Ruslan said that the police did not suspect any foul play in the four deaths
and the post-mortem results had also not shown that the workers had died of
poisoning.
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