Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) representatives will meet with the Works Ministry next week to follow up on its probe into alleged abuse of migrant workers at the construction site of the new palace.

Speaking to Malaysiakini yesterday, commissioner Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah said the ministry had invited Suhakam to a meeting to explain how it has responded to the claims.

"They want to show us the follow-up actions they have taken," Sha'ani said.

Suhakam began its probe following a report in the Star on June 27, highlighting deplorable living and working conditions suffered by the workers, who also complained they had not received their wages.

NONE The workers' lawyers had also lodged a police report on their behalf, alleging extortion by police (left) .

The matter was then referred to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, which has begun its probe .

Suhakam had earlier sent a letter of inquiry to the ministry, asking for the findings of its internal probe into the matter.

"In the letter, we also stated to the ministry our stand that such cases require urgent cooperation from the authorities," Sha'ani said.

The human rights watchdog was prevented from carrying out a "spot check" at the site by the contractors, Maya Maju Sdn Bhd, which claimed "security reasons".

The commission was only able to inspect the site weeks later, following approval from the Works Ministry.

Suhakam contacts Segambut MP

It is believed that the delay has led to unreliable findings of no abuse or minors on site.

Following Suhakam's findings, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who had visited the site in June with the Star , showed the media photographs proving that babies were living there.

NONE "Suhakam called me after that to ask for the evidence and I emailed it to them on Monday," Lim said when contacted yesterday (right) .

He added that he had also requested a progress report on the probe, but has yet to hear from the commission.

Sha'ani had earlier said that the human rights body was unable to progress further after the inspection due to lack of evidence.

However, he told Malaysiakini , the commission "is always open to fresh evidence".