Datuk remanded over worker abuse

KLANG: A 29-year-old Datuk has been remanded over the alleged mistreatment of 172 women working at his bird’s nest factory.

The businessman, being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, was arrested on Tuesday.

Of the women, 152 were from Indonesia, three from Myanmar and the rest Malay­sians.

They were allegedly forced to work long hours and on their rest days, without being paid overtime wages.

Two men and a woman were also arrested with the Datuk after a joint raid on the factory in the heart of this town by the Home Ministry’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants unit, the po­­lice, Immigration and Manpower departments.

A spokesman for the police said the woman, who is the factory manager, and the Datuk have been remanded for seven days from today.

“The other two suspects are being investigated under the Immigration Act and will probably be charged,” the spokesman said.

A restaurant operator near the factory said the premises was now almost abandoned because all the workers have been taken away by the authorities.

“Previously, there were so many workers in uniform and they were there from morning till night,” said the man who only wanted to be identified as Ryan.

A woman, who runs a nearby restaurant, said the Datuk and his business partners had their meals at her outlet on several occasions.