I refer to the malaysiakini report Family charged over employee's death .

I am outraged over the death of migrant worker R Ganesh from abuse and malnutrition, suffered at the hands of his employers. Although the police have done what they should in arresting the perpetrators, I think it is time we reflect upon our attitudes and behaviour towards migrant workers - that they are merely resources to be used, abused and discarded.

I am ashamed to come to the conclusion that the blatant disregard of migrant workers' dignity is institutionalised. Migrant workers have limited avenues to seek justice should they suffer abuse at the hands of their employers.

For example, usually when a dispute occurs between the employer and the migrant worker, a cancellation of the latter's contract by the employer follows. This would mean the end of the migrant worker's visa, which is their document to remain in the country.

Migrant workers seeking legal redress against their employers have to pay RM100 for a Special Pass to remain in the country. This Special Pass has to be renewed every month. Migrant workers under Special Passes are not allowed to work in the country. With no income to support their cost of living and legal fees, it is nearly impossible for them to seek legal redress.

The handful who are lucky enough to get help from NGOs and are exempt from paying the fees still stare into an uncertain future. This travesty of justice is multiplied in cases of sexual assault, whereby the burden of proof lies on the part of the victim. Unions for migrant workers are non- existent, effectively erasing a crucial platform to demand for migrant worker's rights.

Rela's notorious violent raids against migrant workers also demonstrate our lack of concern towards migrant workers' right to a life free from violence. Even the recent amendment to the EPF bill that reduced employer's contribution for foreign workers to only RM5 is clearly sending out the message that migrant workers are just cheap resources, made cheaper.

We are a nation built on the blood, sweat and tears of migrants. Our ancestors came to Malaysia to seek a better life for themselves and their family. This is the same for the wave of migrant workers coming to our shores today. Why should they be treated less well?

It's time that we look upon ourselves and question our own xenophobia, to demand from the government better laws and enforcement to protect migrant workers, and for ourselves to voice out and act against the mistreatment of other human beings, migrant or not.

Having said that, I call for the authorities to bring forth R Ganesh's perpetrators to look into the eyes of R Ganesh's family, filled with the dashed hopes for a better life and grief for the loss of a loved one. Hopefully, they will finally learn and understand the pain their scorn for another human being has caused.