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?
1:10PM Jan 20, 2014
In what it sees as yet another case of brutality against migrant workers, Jakarta-based NGO Migrant Care has expressed outrage over the fatal shooting of three Indonesians by the police in Johor Bahru.
“We strongly condemn the shooting and the (lack of action by the) Indonesian government which only arranged the repatriation of the remains without any protest, despite the fact that the fatal shooting was only on the basis of suspicion,” it said in a statement.
“This is an extrajudicial killing, which goes against human rights. The police have no right to shoot (and kill) civilians.”
It urged Jakarta to send a protest note to Putrajaya and to recall its ambassador to Malaysia.
It also called on the Indonesian government to investigate the matter and the many cases where migrant workers have been shot dead by Malaysian police.
“We should put a stop to the killing of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia,” it said.
Migrant Care data shows that, between 2007 and 2014, Malaysian police had shot dead 164 Indonesian workers.
According to the Jakarta Post, Wahab, Sudarsono and Gustri Randa @ Agus were killed at the 37.2km point of the Senai-Desaru Highway about 4.40am on Jan 11. They were reportedly shot several times in the chest and abdomen.
Relatives were quoted as saying that Indonesian embassy officials had informed them that patrolling police officers had been attacked with machetes and revolvers, when approaching the workers who were “behaving suspiciously”.
“We doubt the police claims as the two are employed in Malaysia. Agus worked at a oil palm plantation, while Sudarsono was employed by an iron factory. Also, how could Indonesians get firearms there?” their relative, Fadil, was quoted as saying.
The Jakarta Post reported that the remains of the trio arrived in Central Lombok last Friday and that the families had received Rp 15 million each as reimbursement of the repatriation costs.
Source: Malaysiakini
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