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By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, June 28: An Indonesian maid has alleged that her employer, a teacher, had ill-treated her and has not paid her a salary for 17 years.
Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia, Raden Sigit Witjaksono said the maid, Marlia, 32, was rescued on June 12 with the help of her employer’s son from his mother’s house in Bintulu.
“From our initial investigation, Marlia apparently escaped with the help of her employer’s son, whom she had raised since he was four-years-old.
“Her employer’s son, who is now 21-years-old, is studying in Taiwan. When he returned to Bintulu for the holidays, Marlia told him that she could not take it anymore,” Raden said at a media gathering last night.
That had prompted the young man to help her escape the house while his neighbour waited outside to take Marlia away.
Raden added that Marlia had entered Malaysia in 2004 through an agent and was told she would be paid RM600 per month.
Apart from unpaid salaries, Raden said Marlia was not allowed to leave the house and was denied total communication with her family in Indonesia since 2006.
“Upon receiving the case, a team from the consulate in Kuching went to Bintulu to verify the case. A four-hour mediation session was held with the employer’s husband, police and labour department.
“The employer’s husband initially acknowledged Marlia’s claim and their wrongdoing against her. After a labour department officer had done some calculation, he agreed to pay her unpaid salary of about RM130,000.
“We wanted to solve this case admissibly. However, things didn’t go as smooth as we hoped. Upon returning home and discussed with his wife, the situation took a turn where Marlia’s employer denied any wrongdoing nor owing her any unpaid salary,” Raden said.
The consulate then proceeded to lodge two reports with the police and labour department.
Marlia was immediately taken to a temporary shelter in Kuching.
The consulate has also arranged for her transfer to its shelter in Kota Kinabalu where she will stay for 21 days pending further investigation.
Raden also confirmed that the case is being investigated under Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Amendment Act 2022. — DayakDaily
