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?
Sarawak Police Chief Datuk Talib Jamal who gave the advice said
if they fail to do so, their workers would naturally be dissatisfied and angry.
<P>"This
can lead to quarrel and fight and even ending in death," he told a news conference
after chairing the state’s first District Police Chief and General Operation Force
(GOF) commanders conference this year at a hotel here beginning today.</P><P>A
total of 27 District Police Chiefs, six Heads of Department from the state Police
Headquarters and three GOF commanders are attending the three-day meeting.</P><P>He
was referring to a recent case in Meradong in the Sarikei Division where a group
of dissatisfied Indonesian oil palm plantation workers had quarrelled with their
employers and in the ensuing fight, a 21-year old electronic technician, said
to be a son of the employer was killed.</P><P>"In this case, we heard that
an Indonesian worker who worked for the family was only paid half of the RM1,600
in salary due."</P><P>"He had come together with six other Indonesian
workers from a neighbouring plantation to demand for the amount although the victim’s
family had estimated about 10 had come."</P><P>Talib said only three, armed
with short and long knives were involved in the fight and they had been positively
identified by the victim’s family."</P><P>He said it had yet to be ascertained
whether another one was armed with what had looked like a pistol.</P><P>"We
know the identities of all those involved and we are still searching for them.
If necessary we will get the assistance from Interpol as well."</P><P>He
denied an allegation by a government politician that the police had been slow
to act after receiving a report of the case.</P><P>"When it was reported
at the Meradong police station, the officer-in-charge had immediately taken action.
The police then set up road blocks at Julau, Sarikei and Meradong."</P><P>"Reinforcement
too came from the Sibu police who sent 20 men and five dogs to the scene but all
those involved had escaped."</P><P>"The only thing is please inform
us fast so that action can be taken immediately to prevent the perpetrators from
making their getaway."</P><P>Talib also advised folks diving deep in the
interiors ( 20 to 30 kilometres from the main road) to always inform the police
on the presence of strangers in their midst.</P><P>He said the state police had
now been beefed up with 97 additional multi purpose vehicles for better security
coverage and patrol.</P><P>He said one each had been sent to smaller districts,
nine units each to Sibu, Miri and Bintulu and 30 units for Kuching city (with
its bigger area and higher rate of crimes). — BERNAMA</P>
<P><I>Source: http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=245772</I>
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