Migrant rights group Tenaganita has urged the immigration department to release Bangladeshi national Abdul Kalam who is pursuing a five-year dispute with his former employer.

Abdul was arrested at the immigration headquarters in Putrajaya to "assist investigations" last Thursday while trying to secure a letter to leave the country without hassle.

"We are concerned that he may be charged for overstaying - it's not that he has done this purposely," said Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez in a statement.

"Once a worker has a case in court to claim his legal right, the immigration department must respect and legalise his stay in the country."

Abdul and 10 others filed a case in the industrial court in November 2002 over wages owed, among other claims against Keihin Sdn Bhd. They filed an appeal in 2004 and the next hearing date is on April 9.

Scare tactic

According to Fernandez, the 11 have had to renew their social visit pass at a cost of RM100 a month. Last October, the immigration department stopped issuing them the pass without giving a reason.

Abdul then decided to leave the country voluntarily last week. He went to get a letter from the immigration department so that he could leave without being detained as an illegal immigrant at the exit point.

Fernandez said his arrest has placed the other 10 under duress, and that it was done to frighten workers who are seeking legal redress.

"It is worrying that the worker has been arrested for investigation purposes when the immigration department knows the full facts of the case and the reasons for the application for the special pass," said Fernandez.

She warned that, if such arrests continue, it would set a precedent for exploitation of foreign labour.