Lawyers lodge police report on behalf of 1,000 Indonesian workers
“The workers had to go hungry by limiting to one or two meals daily although they needed energy to carry out heavy work (at the Istana Negara)”.
(The Malay Mail) KUALA LUMPUR: Five lawyers today lodged a police report on behalf of 1,000 Indonesian construction workers over non-payment of wages by the Istana Negara project contractor since January.
The report made at Brickfields police station at noon was filed by lawyers Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, N. Surendran, Latheefa Koya, Syuhaini Safwan and Murnie Hidayah.
In the report, the Indonesian workers also claimed police which conducted regular raids on their workplace had also threatened them.
Fadiah Nadwa said the workers had been denied their rights and that their welfare had been overlooked as they needed money to support family members.
“The workers had to go hungry by limiting to one or two meals daily although they needed energy to carry out heavy work.
About 100 workers were arrested during each police raid and they were asked to give RM1,500 each in exchange for freedom.
“They were threatened with arrest by police if they refused to pay,” she told reporters here today.
The workers also claimed that police also seized their personal items like foodstuff, cigarettes and shampoo during the raids.
Fadiah Nadwa urged police to conduct an immediate investigation to protect the welfare of the workers.
