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?
This was revealed during initial police investigations over the alleged assault of two foreign workers during a Rela raid last Friday.
<P>Kuala Langat police
chief Superintendent Zulkifl i Mohamad said they did not comply with procedures
when entering the plywood factory cabin container in Jenjarom.</P><P>“They
should have asked permission from the security personnel and informed them of
the raid.</P><P>If the security personnel refused, then they may refer the matter
to the employer to gain entry,” he told The Malay Mail yesterday.</P><P>It
is learnt that the Rela members had climbed over the factory’s gate to enter
the compound and kicked open the cabin doors.</P><P>“All those in the raiding
party were called up by police on Saturday and only eight of them were found to
have been involved in the incident.</P><P>“The eight men, in their 30s and
40s, were questioned, had their statements recorded and released at midnight,”
he said.</P><P>Yesterday, The Malay Mail reported that the eight Rela members
may be expelled if found guilty.</P><P>Selangor director Khairi Mohd Alwee had
said they would not condone such acts by its members.</P><P>Rela has left it to
the police to investigate.</P><P>It had said that it will ensure that members
be given appropriate punishment such as expulsion from duty, if found guilty.</P><P>However,
Khairi defended his men as he believed that the eight are not guilty and that
the incident during the raid did not happen as reported by some newspapers.</P><P>He
said there were no complaints about workers getting hurt after the raid and stressed
that the Kuala Langat Rela force had a good record.</P><P>Khairi added that it
is unethical to assault people or damage items during a raid as Rela members are
trained to follow procedures.</P><P>On Sunday, it was reported that eight Rela
members had been detained following a police report lodged by two Nepalese workers.</P><P>The
Nepalese were allegedly assaulted during the 2.</P><P>30am raid involving 40 men
from the district.</P><P>One of the workers had claimed he needed three stitches
on his head after being beaten with a cane.</P><P><I>Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/mm/Tuesday/National/20070306101522/Article/index_html</I>
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