Protest over death of Nepali turns ugly in Malaysia

JOHOR BARU, Aug 17: A protest by more than a thousand foreign factory workers at their quarters in the Tebrau industrial area turned violent on its second day, as a guardpost was destroyed and onlookers were pelted with stones and rubbish.

The protest, which lasted some eight hours, also saw the workers – mainly from Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India – turning fire extinguishers on bystanders and chasing after a vehicle ferrying two health inspectors.[break]

It is learnt that a bystander suffered a minor cut on his head after being hit by a stone thrown by a worker.

However, the 200 policemen deployed to the scene managed to prevent the fracas from spreading beyond the compound.

On Monday, the protesters demanded higher wages.

Bangladeshi Jinur Biswas, 26, said the workers wanted their wages increased from RM420 to RM546 per month.

“We also want the company to provide a mini-clinic within the compound and to pay about RM25,000 to the family of any worker who dies here,” he said, adding that prompt action was needed to aid any sick worker.

Smokescreen: Foreign workers running for cover after setting up a smokescreen by burning rubbish at their enclave in Tebrau industrial area in Johor Baru.

He also said the company had not been paying the workers overtime.

“Even if we worked 12 hours, they would pay us only two hours of overtime,” he said.

Johor Baru (South) OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Yaakob said the workers dispersed at about 5.50pm.

“Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel were stationed there to restore calm at the quarters. They did not discharge their weapons or felt the need to fire water cannons,” said ACP Zainudddin.

He added that a representative from the workers would meet their agents and the factory’s management today to discuss the problems.

“The meeting will be held at 11am at the management office in the Tebrau Industrial area,” he said.

The workers claimed the Nepali worker died because of their employer´s delay in sending him to the hospital.

"Investigations revealed that the 20-year-old Nepali worker had died while being treated at Sultanah Aminah Hospital here after he was admitted about 7am Monday."

Johor police Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Amer Awal said the victim had hid the fact he was sick from his employer.

He only informed his employer that he had high fever yesterday morning. "When the employer came to know and decided to send him to hospital, it was a little too late. We have recorded statements from several of the workers to facilitate investigations," Amer said.