One of the lawyers representing workers at the new palace project who claims to have been exploited has been called by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to assist in its probe into the matter.

Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, who had lodged a police report on the matter last month, is due to give her statement to the commission in Kuala Lumpur at 1.30pm tomorrow.

This is because the case, which allegedly involves elements of corruption, has been passed by the police to the anti-graft body.

tian chua media police suit pc 090307 latheefa koya The report, jointly lodged with human rights lawyers Latheefa Koya ( right ), N Surendran and Murnie Hidayah Anuar, highlighted that the workers have not been paid since January and that they have been victims of extortion by police personnel.

According to the lawyers, the workers faced police raids once or twice a month, with about 100 workers detained each time.

They also claimed that the workers, who were hauled up to the Travers police station, were only released once they had paid bribes to the police officers.

Fadiah claimed that the authorities had also been confiscating personal belongings such as canned food, cigarettes and shampoo.

Children allegedly at worksite

The matter came to public attention after an expose by Star on June 27, which highlighted the deplorable living and working conditions of the workers.

The report prompted the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to inspect the site, but it returned empty-handed last Thursday.

The commission does not discount the possibility that abuse had occurred as its inspection had been blocked the first time around.

Suhakam was barred entry by the contractors earlier this month and could only conduct a planned inspection about a week after their initial ‘spot check'.

While the workers have confirmed receipt of backdated wages, the lawyers claimed that their clients are still living in terrible conditions, which are suspected to have been concealed during the inspection.

Meanwhile, Segambut parliamentarian Lim Lip Eng plans to call a press conference tomorrow to provide evidence of claims that there were children at the worksite.