The managing director of a construction company had to allegedly treat two immigration officers to Kentucky Fried Chicken to secure the release of his foreign workers.

The 24 Indonesian workers were arrested in Gombak on April 22 by members of the volunteer corp Rela.

The wife of the managing director, who only identified herself as Jennifer, related the incident at a press conference organised by DAP Teratai community centre chief Jenice Lee in Kuala Lumpur today.

According to Jennifer ( photo: left ), the workers were arrested because they were accused of using a work permit belonging to another company. They were later taken to the Machap Umboo detention camp in Malacca.

However, Jennifer said the workers had valid documents.

Release letter

Her husband, whom she only identified as Liow, then went to the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya to verify this.

He was then directed to the Shah Alam immigration department to secure the release letter for his workers.

Jennifer said her husband, who was forced to wait for two days, grew tired and pleaded with the officers in Shah Alam to issue the release letter.

It was at this point that one immigration officer allegedly suggested that the managing director treat them to dinner in return for the letter.

"My husband was desperate as the arrest had interrupted work at the construction site. He had no choice and bought the officers KFC. The site was shut for three days and chalked up a loss of up to RM10,000," said Jennifer.

She claimed that the release letter was issued right after her husband bought two KFC snack plate meals costing about RM20 for the two officers.

Jennifer also alleged that the workers were treated poorly during their detention.

"They did not have enough food. They were not given blankets and had insect bites on their bodies," she said.

Meanwhile, Lee said she will forward the complaint to the Home Ministry. Urged by reporters, Lee called Deputy Home Minister Tan Chai Ho for comment.

He said Rela members can make arrests without the requirement of any form of authority letter from the immigration department.

Tan also told Lee to write in a formal complaint on the incident.