In October 2020, Malacca-born Muthu was only 22-years-old when he was forced to relocate to a remote oil palm plantation in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, where he was to remain in servitude until his RM3,500 debt was settled with his creditor.

His creditor is also the contractor in charge of the smallholding plantation and has a group of debtors in servitude at the plantation, said Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy.

Doraisamy said Muthu has alleged his experience at the plantation included degrading verbal abuses, harsh beatings, long hours of work that spanned up to 14 hours a day, restricted movements and low wages with no accountability of payments.

As workers of all nationalities in Malaysia celebrated International Workers' Day on May 1, Doraisamy is broadening the world's focus on forced labour in Malaysia to once again include...