Here's the scenario.

A total of 123 Indian nationals, who had been working in Malaysian companies in Johor Baru, have been gathering periodically outside the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur since last week.

They have resorted to such action because it is the only place they feel confident enough to seek redress for what they alleged was a 'shameless crime' committed against them by foreign worker agents in India and Malaysian businessmen who hired them.

The workers arrived in Malaysia on various dates late last year with the majority landing in September 2004. They were promised jobs paying between RM700 to RM800 a month with lodging provided. They did not get even half of that.

Almost all of them secured finances to travel as well as to pay levy - close to RM10,000 - to agents by borrowing from loan sharks and selling assets. They now shudder at the thought of having to face the music when they reach home.

Arriving at the Indian High Commission to do a story on the 123 the other day, I bumped into 11 other Indian nationals who were waiting for news of their complaint - lodged six months ago at the embassy - against their previous employer (a famous roti canai eatery franchise in Subang Jaya) who allegedly had not paid them months of wages, confiscated their passports and subjected them to physical abuse.

Ask members of labour rights group Tenaganita and they too will have many stories to tell of immigrants being ill treated. Tenaganita receives daily reports of cases of migrant workers conned and abused by Malaysian employers.