Kuala Lumpur, Mar 15: A group of Indian nationals in Malaysia have lodged police reports alleging mistreatment by their employer, their lawyer said today. The allegations involving 39 workers in southern Malacca state came less than a week after India lodged a diplomatic protest with Malaysia over police mistreatment against over 200 Indian workers, mainly IT professionals, who were mistakenly detained on suspicion of being illegal immigrants. In response to the protest, Malaysia's acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday said police have been given until Monday to probe the allegations, which he described as serious and could affect India-Malaysia ties.
Meanwhile, the 39 workers claimed a factory run by Fudex Rubber Products had employed them on monthly salaries of 600 Ringgit (US$157), but they were only paid half that amount since April last year. Their lawyer Amardas Jethanand said that the factory did not give a valid reason for the pay cut and factory officials also forcibly sent home several other Indian workers who complained about the pay cut.
He said the Indian High Commission had been informed about the workers' plight. Factory officials were not immediately available for comment.
Bureau Report