The Indonesian government today urged Malaysia to swiftly prosecute abusive employers after an Indonesian maid died and another fled this week.

Police are investigating a Malaysian couple for murder after their maid, Kunasir, 24, was found dead on Tuesday night. Her body showed signs of beating, they said.

It came a day after another Indonesian maid climbed out of the window of a high-rise apartment in Kuala Lumpur to escape her abusive employer.

"The woman is now with us," said Indonesian embassy official Eka Suripto.

"We have been talking with her employer and as she (employer) has not been willing to admit the abuses, the police are now investigating the case."

"We have seen an increase in abuses involving our nationals. I don't think we have seen the end of the tunnel yet, and we have asked them (authorities in Malaysia) to speed up cases involving our nationals," Suripto said.

300,000 Indonesian maids

Malaysia relies heavily on foreign workers for menial jobs, and Suripto said about 300,000 Indonesian maids are employed here.

While local authorities have denied abuses are on the rise, many Indonesian maids run away from their employers every month.

The Indonesian embassy said more than 1,000 abused or unpaid workers seek refuge in its compound every year.