KUALA LUMPUR – The authorities have come under fire for arresting the 171 Bangladeshis who were in a viral video for walking in Kota Tinggi, Johor to attempt to lodge a report against their agents who failed to provide them jobs as contractually agreed.
Human rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) said the workers were duped and left stranded in Malaysia, making them victims of trafficking as per Section 2 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Atipsom).
LFL director Zaid Malek said victims of trafficking cannot be detained in immigration depots or charged for offences, but should be brought to the magistrate within 24 hours of their arrest to be given an interim protection order in accordance with Section 44 of Atipsom.
“We urge the government to ensure the immediate release of the 171 Bangladeshis from detention and suspend any investigation for overstaying under the Immigration Act, as well as obtaining a protection order for the migrants.
“The continued detention and investigation of the migrants for an offence under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act makes a mockery of our criminal justice system, where exploitative agents remain free whilst victims are detained and treated like criminals without due process,” he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the employer and agency involved with the recruitment of 171 migrant workers would be called up to explain why they failed to obtain jobs for the workers three months after entering the country.
He added that a thorough investigation would be conducted this week, adding that the ministry will assist the affected workers to obtain proper employment.
“(Home Minister Datuk Seri) Saifuddin Nasution (Ismail) and I will review policy. For the Johor case, (the) employer involved will be called up this week for investigation.
“I stress, the hiring of migrant workforce is to support businesses and should not be a business in itself.”
The incident that occurred on December 20 morning was caught on video after hundreds of Bangladeshis were spotted walking at the entrance of Teluk Ramunia Bayu Damai.
All 171 workers have been sent to the Setia Tropika Immigration Office in Johor Bahru for investigations. – December 27, 2023