COMMENT | Contract fraud: Heads must roll, go after insidious agents

COMMENT | I read with shock and horror the Malaysiakini exposé at the scale of the contract fraud involving unsuspecting migrant workers and even resulting in the deaths of two, on Malaysian soil that is highly suspicious.

Migrant workers have been arriving at our shores up to our doorsteps in the form of domestic helpers, plantation industries, construction workers, in the food and beverage industry, security and other fields from Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam and other countries - and specific ones like tailoring from Punjab and goldsmiths from India.

Of course, we have the “other” migrant workers in the form of expatriates who are the highly skilled, highly paid professionals and the other group - mostly unskilled or semi-skilled.

This seems to be one of the core problems in the employment of migrant workers in Malaysia.

My personal experiences were when I was a varsity student and a young working adult, through my conversations with some security guards in residential areas, most of the Nepalese security guards had degrees in medical sciences, mathematics and even computer science and some even held a master’s degree.

They were told they would work in the field that they are knowledgeable and experts in but were totally blindsided when they were crammed into hazardous living conditions, degrading treatment and tough working hours.

They just shrugged, laughed nervously and said there was nothing else to do with no money in their hands when I asked them why they didn’t want to go back.

This was over 20 years ago, and it is 2023 and we are still having to read such horrors of fraud, false documentation and involvement of many parties - with human lives at stake. Imagine a Malaysia without the workforce of these migrant workers.

The truth is we are so dependent on them, but many treat them like they owe us the “privilege” of coming to work here. It is not a case of being too proud to work anywhere given that times are hard now, but the deception and lies.

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Not only HR Ministry's problem

It is assuring to read the statement by Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar in Parliament that there will be a probe into the fake contracts, but the matter has been going on for far too long.

The report must dig deep, into cartels, syndicates and human trafficking rings and if Malaysiakini can do it, I am confident more manpower, resources, intelligence and technology that the government is equipped to take the necessary actions on these vile human beings who don’t regard what the value of a life is.

But it is not only on the shoulders of the Human Resources Ministry. The Home Ministry, particularly the Immigration Department, police and the MACC must work together not only to plug the leakages but to send a clear message that Malaysia is not a haven for human trafficking and migrant worker exploitation.

In addition to that, the onus is then on the Attorney-General's Chambers to press charges on these agents and every single person who had been in cahoots with them.

Working in silos is not an option here when human lives are at the risk of being extinguished on our soil and especially that we become custodians when they are here.

Deaths should not be in vain

How many times have we read of exposés by NGOs that have dedicated themselves to highlighting the plight of migrant workers and assisting them? Bullying and abuses of power by those in powerful, privileged positions.

For a start, one of the initiatives proposed by the North South Initiative is for an emergency shelter to be set up for male migrant workers.

This is something the government can consider doing for the safety, welfare and protection of these victims but for documentation purposes as well.

Both the Home Ministry and the Human Resources Ministry must conduct a thorough investigation - leaving no stones unturned, that heads must roll and present the report to Parliament and classify it as an open document for people to be alert of such conduct by agents.

Present a flow chart of quota applications with their respective jurisdictions clearly marked out for transparency, integrity and accountability.

The report should be presented to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee and the committee must then carry out hearings and field visits with Suhakam and CSOs who have been the torchbearers for migrant rights and protection.

One party cannot work alone to see justice served. Charge perpetrators without fear, favour or prejudice.

Malaysia has much to gain, even financially if we take this matter seriously instead of showing only one side of our image of a food haven, tourist destination and holiday spot with beautiful lush wildlife and scenery while on the other hand, we become a hub for the exploitation of migrant workers and human trafficking syndicates.

Two known cases of men who died in the exposé cannot be in vain, notably that they were part of the employment industry.

We cannot allow these diabolical agents - local and abroad to continue to reign, manipulate, cheat and bully these men and women who have left the comfort of their countries to work in Malaysia.

KASTHURI PATTO is DAP deputy secretary for International Affairs and DAP Women's vice-chairperson.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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