Eleven non-governmental organisations have urged the Immigration department to clarify its basis for conducting a raid on a women's shelter which has been gazetted as a "safe area" under the Domestic Violence Act 1994.

Speaking on behalf of the NGOs, Women's Aid Organisation executive secretary Ivy Josiah said today that the incident has become an issue of public interest.

She also said that the raid has serious repercussions and implications on other shelters run by women's organisations throughout the country.

"We need clarification on what basis did the Immigration conduct the raid and the nature of the complaint it received," said Josiah in a press conference at La Salle Hall, Petaling Jaya.

"We also need to know whether the Immigration had done prior investigation to see if the complainant did not have any vested interest and mischievous intent," said Josiah.

Last Wednesday, 11 officers raided the shelter and threatened WAO staff if they did not cooperate with them. Four Indonesian women were detained and later released after much negotiation.

WAO also wanted Immigration to clarify its reasons for looking for Lilis Arumiyati, an Indonesian domestic worker who has an eight-month-old baby.

Lilis has been issued a special pass on Oct 4 which is valid until Nov 4, as she has a pending court case.

"If the documents produced by WAO is insufficient, the Immigration department must explain why," said Josiah.

"These cases are still pending police investigations and the women could have been spared the trauma of facing a five-hour ordeal at the Immigration office," she added.

Josiah said that Immigration and police procedures when a foreign worker abuse case comes under police investigation must be defined.

"Are there any immediate arrangements made by both agencies to allow women to remain in the country to facilitate investigations?" asked Josiah.

She added that the protocols of any investigation process directed at women shelters must include communicating with the executive committee, trustee and senior staff first.

Public apology

WAO is also demanding a public apology for the officers' non-professional behaviour that day, Josiah said.

"Throughout the whole operation there was constant shouting and intimidation and a refusal to talk through peacefully and to discuss the reason for the raid. The action was totally unnecessary."

The officials also demanded that every room be opened and did not adhere to the women's plea that the action was an invasion of privacy.

Although the entourage were told that men were not allowed into the shelter, male officials went into every room where women and children were resting.

"They could just ask us what they want and we'll provide the information," said Josiah, adding that WAO is a transparent and high-profile organisation.

WAO will be meeting with the director-general of immigration Esah Che Mat on Wednesday to seek clarification on issues relating to the raid.

The other supporting NGOs were Penang Women's Crisis Centre, All Women's Action Society, Women's Development Collective, Sahabat Wanita, Women's Candidacy Initiative, Sisters In Islam, Metal Industry Employees Union, Suaram, Help Home and Women's Sports & Fitness Foundation Malaysia.