Malay Mail 23 rd February 2006

400 left in the lurch by firm

A group of about 400 Indian nationals claimed they were brought to Malaysia in batches last year by a company that was contracted to provide workers for an electronics factory in Pasir Gudang, Johore.

“For the first two months, everything was all right as we were given jobs and received our salary. However, on the third month, we were told by the company that there was no more work”. The company did not give any reason for the sudden development. Yesterday, 35 other Indian nationals from the group went to the Indian High Commission in Jalan Duta to ask for help in settling the matter.

“We came to seek help from the High Commission. We want the company to return our passport and pay us the rest of our salary along with the levies that we paid to come into Malaysia. The group decided to go to the High Commission as some of them wanted to go home.

“Previously when we said anything about coming here, officials from the company would promise that jobs would be available within a week. This happened a few times, but we still have no jobs, and the workers are not staying at a hostel provided by the company. 18 of the workers were sent home when the company lodged a police report accusing them of being trouble makers. The group arrived at the High Commission at 11.15 am but only managed to meet officials there at 4.30pm. It was report that the officials promised to try and resolve the matter by the next day.

The group is camping in front of the High Commission as they have nowhere else to go. They said:

“We will stay here until the matter is resolved. We are not going back to Pasir Gudang.

Malay Mail February 27 th, 2006

“Solve our woes and we’ll go”

The 171 Indian Nationals who have been camping in front of the Indian High Commission in Jalan Duta since last week are staying put until their problems are resolved. It is reported that they will not budge until High Commission officials help them get their passports and salaries from the company they had been working in Pasir Gudang, Johore for the past four months.

“Since we arrived here five days ago, nobody from the High Commission has offered us help. The officials have promised to resolve our problem as soon as possible, but nothing is being done, he told.

He said High Commission officials have ignored them and left them to fend for themselves. “We have not showered as there is no toilet here. We were also denied the use of the High Commission’s rest room. We turned drains and some trees around here into “toilets” said Syed, who is from Chennai, India.

“We only eat when people give us food and mineral water, otherwise, we starve as we don’t have any money, “ It was reported last Feb 23 that a group of Indian nationals had camped in front of the High Commission as they had nowhere else to go, claiming they were duped by agents. They also claimed that they were brought into Malaysia in batches last year by a company that was contracted to provide workers for an electronics factory in Pasir Gudang.They were left unemployed in the third month without any reason. They company also did not pay the rest of their salaries along with the levies that they paid before entering the country. Meanwhile, another group of 51 Indian national yesterday moved into a multi-purpose hall, provided by the management of Sri Subramaniyar Swamy temple in Batu Caves.

The group’s representative, Suji Jose, 27 said the offer was welcomed while they wait for the wage dispute with their employer in Balakong to be looked into by the High Commission. “We still want a job in Malaysia so that we can earn money to send to our families back home. Plus the facilities at the hall are better”

Two buses and a lorry were used to ferry the Indian nationals and their belongings to the multi purpose hall.

The Malay Mail February, 28, 2006

Residents want them out

The presence of a group of Indian workers camping opposite the Indian High Commission in Jalan Duta is causing concern among the residents. The residents felt that the Taman Duta area, where the High Commission is located, is a home to a number of prominent people. The presence of the Indian workers is an eyesore, said a resident. He added that the residents are also worried about their security. One passer by said” It is an embarrassment to see them camped there.

It is the responsibility of the Indian High Commission to safeguard the welfare of their nationals.

Insights into the Indian nationals’ plight

What has been? The workers claim have been cheated by agents who brought them into the country, promised them jobs that would be available within a week. Nothing was true. Now these workers want the company to return their passports and pay them the rest of their salary along with the levies that they paid to come into Malaysia.

What is being done by Indian High Commission? Said one worker:

“Officials from the High Commission have promised to help them get their passports back and arrange their flight home. However, nothing has happened. Since we arrived here five days ago, nobody from the High Commission has offered us help. The officials have promised to resolve our problem as soon as possible, but nothing is being done”, he told.