Four immigration officers, two middlemen arrested in I-Kad 'kenduri'

2008/08/04
By : Patrick Sennyah

BAHAU: It looked like any other kenduri. There were tents put up and food was served to some 250 people who turned up for the "feast" at Felda Serting Satu here yesterday afternoon.

But behind the charade, there was something sinister going on. The cover was blown when a team of officers from the Anti-Corruption Agency raided the "feast".

It was then discovered that the guests were all illegal immigrants and the hosts were officers from the Johor Immigration Department who were abusing their powers in assisting foreign workers obtain and renew their I-Kad.

Four Immigration officers, including a woman, and two middlemen, were arrested in the raid about 4.30pm. The raiding team also seized RM6,000 and 250 I-Kad.

A source told the New Straits Times that the 250 foreign workers had come to the house from as early as 8am.

They allegedly paid RM100 each for the I-Kad.

The officers involved each collected RM30 for "services rendered".

The I-Kad was introduced in May last year to make it easy to identify foreigners who are here to study or work.

It is a new, high-security, colour-coded card system which has 17 security features and the colour represents the sector the holder is in.

The card is also embedded with a microchip that has a biometric thumbprint of the holder to determine the identity of the holder.

The source added that the four officers had been taken to the state ACA office here.

It is not known if the arrests of the four are linked to the earlier ACA swoop at the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya.

In the incident, 12 officers and businessmen involved in manpower supply companies. were arrested to facilitate investigations into a visa and permit extension scam.

The ACA seized almost RM500,000 in that operation.

The first to be detained in the operation on July 11 was the Immigration Department director-general Datuk Wahid Md Don, 56, who was charged and later released on bail.

The following day, Wahid's deputy, Yusof Abu Bakar, and Yusof's brother-in-law who acted as a middleman, were also arrested. Both were also charged and released on bail.

In follow-up operations, the ACA arrested two more Immigration officers with the rank of deputy directors.

Following their arrests, Wahid and Yusof were reassigned to the Public Service Department reporting directly to its director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam, pending completion of court proceedings.

Crying foul over runaway Indon maids

A BUSINESSMAN, who had three Indonesian maids running away, claimed that the maid agency was in cahoots with the maids after finding two of them in an apartment allegedly belonging to the agent.

The 34-year-old businessman said his family had paid the agency RM11,780 to hire two Indonesian maids in June but one ran off after working less than a month at their home in Air Itam in Penang.

He said they got a replacement maid on Sept 3 after having to pay an additional RM1,300 as levy and other charges to the agency but the new maid and the other one ran away on Oct 13.
Unable to contact the agent, the busi-nessman said he and his sister conducted a search in the neighbourhood and found the two maids on Oct 15 in an apartment said to be the property of the agent.

He said the agent refused to refund the money paid for the three maids, adding that he lodged a report at the Farlim police station on Oct 15 as he suspected that the agent was in cahoots with the maids.

He also sought the help of the Penang MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau which held a press conference on Saturday.
Bureau chief Tan Yok Cheng, who was unable to contact the agent, urged him to come forward to settle the problem.

Efforts by The Star to contact the agent were in vain.

Let down by maid agency

GURMIT of Kuala Lumpur is dissatisfied with the agency where he applied for a domestic maid.He says he was promised a maid who could perform household chores. He paid RM6,680 as required by Agency Pekerjaan Haz Sdn Bhd.The amount was for six months of the maid’s salary in advance, processing fee, which includes the agency’s commission and the maid’s documentation.

He says when the maid arrived, she could not perform basic chores such as cleaning and looking after the children, and she was always feeling tired.“Worried about my children’s safety, I took her back to the agency,” he says.The agency then offered a replacement, but he refused.“I felt cheated and I dare not take the risk again,” GURMIT says.“My wife and I both work. We don’t need someone unreliable. With a maid like that, I will always be worried about my children’s safety.”

Disappointed with the services provided by the agency, GURMIT demanded a refund. The agency only refunded RM2,800 — the six months’ advance salary for the maid.“The agency had not given me a maid they promised, but they had gained their commission. I lost RM4,000 because of the agency’s mistake.”

- A SPOKESMAN from Agency Pekerjaan Haz says when a client rejects the maid given by the agency with a solid reason, the agency will provide a replacement, but the documentation fee has to be borne by the client.

She says clients are required to sign a form before paying the fee to obtain a maid.The form clearly states the company’s policy that it would only refund the advance salary if the client rejects the maid.

She also refutes the claim that the maid was unable to perform basic chores because the maids are trained before being sent to the clients.The spokesman says she will meet GURMIT to clear the matter.

Riled up over maid agency

HANISAH of Sungai Besi has been waiting for a maid for nearly four months.

She claims that she paid a local maid agency RM2,500 in April and was promised a maid in two weeks.“I got a maid a month later, but according to the agency’s director, the maid is only temporary. I was told that if everything turns out well, the agency would make arrangements to appoint her as my permanent maid,” she says.

However, the maid refused to stay after two weeks.One and a half months later, HANISAH asked for a refund but was unable to reach the agency’s director. She was always given excuses instead.“At the end of July, the director’s assistant agreed to give the refund in the form of a cheque.“An employee brought the cheque and a letter stating that our contract has been cancelled but I declined to accept it for fear that the cheque might bounce,” HANISAH says.

Then the agency agreed to deposit half of the payment into her bank account last Friday but she has yet to see the money.“I asked the director to fax a copy of the bank-in slip but she refused,” she says.

- DIRECTOR of Agensi Pekerjaan Roslena Sdn Bhd Roslena Hisham denies the allegation against her agency.“It is untrue. We sent HANISAH four maids, including the temporary one.”

Roslena claims that the maids’ wages were paid by her agency and she did not get anything from HANISAH.“I banked in half of the payment last Friday but it will take a week to 10 days to be processed.“HANISAH will only get the money next week.“I will refund the other half later in the week,” she says.

The director alleges that she had to endure constant pressure from HANISAH and that she had not made any excuses for not being reachable as she was outstation on business.“I am trying to be as professional as I can but it’s not easy when dealing with a difficult client.“My agency has to go through numerous procedures to acquire maids and it takes time,” she says.

Dera anak majikan

Oleh Mohd Sabran Md Sani

KUALA LUMPUR: Seorang pembantu rumah warga Indonesia dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Majistret di sini, semalam, atas tuduhan mendera anak majikannya berusia tiga tahun di sebuah kondominium di sini, pada 28 Ogos lalu.

Reni Neken, 27, dari Kupang, Indonesia, didakwa mendera Goh Ceng Yee, dengan menendang, memijak dan menolak mangsa di ruang tamu kediaman ibu bapanya yang juga majikan tertuduh di No A2-27-08, Putramas 2 Condo, Jalan Kuching.Tertuduh yang berkhidmat sebagai pembantu rumah sejak 23 Mac lalu, didakwa melakukan perbuatan itu antara jam 3.25 petang hingga 3.40 petang, pada 28 Ogos lalu.

Reni didakwa mengikut Seksyen 31(1)(a) Akta Kanak-Kanak 2001 yang boleh dihukum penjara maksimum 10 tahun atau denda atau kedua-duanya jika sabit kesalahan serta dihukum mengikut seksyen sama.

Wanita itu mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan terbabit, sebelum Majistret Azniza Mohd Ali menetapkan 2 November depan untuk menjatuhkan hukuman serta mendengar fakta kes atas pertuduhan disabitkan.

Pendakwaan dilakukan Cif Inspektor Muhammad Mohd Jais.Sementara itu dalam prosiding berkenaan, pihak pendakwaan membantah sebarang jaminan berikutan tertuduh adalah warga asing.Bagaimanapun Reni yang tidak diwakili peguam bela memohon jasa baik mahkamah supaya memaklumkan perkara itu kepada agensi pekerjaannya di negara ini."Agensi pekerjaan saya harus tahu mengenai perkara ini. Dia tidak tahu masalah saya dan tidak ada orang yang mahu jamin saya pada hari ini (semalam)," katanya dalam rayuan di hadapan Azniza.

Akhbar sebelum ini melaporkan, seorang pembantu rumah warga Indonesia dikatakan berlagak samseng apabila kerap membelasah serta memukul dua anak majikannya ketika ibu bapa mangsa keluar bekerja pada siang hari.Tindakan tidak berperikemanusiaan pembantu rumah terbabit disedari ibu bapa kanak-kanak terbabit selepas anak perempuan mereka yang berusia tiga tahun sering mengadu sakit pada badan dan perut.

Kejadian itu yang kerap kali berlaku menyebabkan majikan terbabit secara sulit memasang kamera web pada komputer untuk merakam gerak-geri pembantu rumah terbabit ketika ketiadaannya di rumah.

Pasangan suami isteri terbabit yang berusia 29 dan 26 tahun terkejut apabila rakaman pada kamera web menunjukkan pembantu rumah itu mendera dan memukul anak mereka sesuka hati.Pembantu rumah itu didakwa turut memukul seorang lagi anak lelaki mangsa yang berusia setahun dan perkara itu terbongkar apabila majikan terbabit terserempak dengan tindakan ganas pembantu rumahnya ketika pulang mengejut pada tengah hari untuk meninjau keadaan anaknya.

Tertuduh juga sebelum ini pernah nekad menyabung nyawa menuruni tingkat 16 kondominium sama dengan mengikat beberapa pakaiannya untuk dijadikan tali dalam cubaan melarikan diri daripada majikannya.Tindakan tertuduh itu hampir memerangkap diri apabila 'tali' dibuatnya menggunakan semua pakaiannya serta tuala, selimut dan pakaian dalam hampir putus sebelum dia panik dan tergantung di celah bangunan pada tingkat 13 kondominium setinggi 30 tingkat itu.

Kejadian itu bagaimanapun disedari orang ramai yang ada di tempat kejadian sebelum memaklumkan ahli persatuan bomba sukarela Wilayah Persekutuan yang kebetulan memberi ceramah di kawasan terbabit.Mangsa kemudian diselamatkan dengan menggunakan tali sebelum dibawa masuk melalui tingkap rumah di tingkat 12 kondominium berkenaan.

Man charged with raping maid

Tuesday September 18, 2007MYT 6:15:16 PM
By M. MAGESWARI

KUALA LUMPUR: Information technology manager Matsidi Samad, 29, was charged on Tuesday with three counts of raping his Indonesian maid in an apartment in Jalan Midah 8 in Cheras.

He was said to have raped the 34-year-old maid at midnight on July 1, at 1am on July 16 and midnight of July 24 respectively.

The maid, who is married with two children from Surabaya, had lodged a police report over the matter on July 29.

If convicted, Matsidi can be sentenced up to 20 years' jail and whipped for each of the three charges under Section 376 of the Penal Code.

Upon hearing his charges read out on Tuesday, Matsidi, whose eight-month pregnant wife had divorced him after the alleged incident, appeared composed.
He was said to have a child from his wife, who is an army doctor.

DPP Geethan Ram Vincent asked the court to deny bail saying that the offence was serious and that there is a possibility of him tampering with the prosecution's witness.

"There is a complaint that the accused had tried to attack the victim (when she told the story to his family) and it has been brought to the attention of the police," said the prosecutor.
He said the prosecution would suggest the bail be set at RM15,000 in one surety for each charge if the court decided to use its discretion to grant him bail.

DPP Geethan said the prosecution also wanted the court to impose additional bail conditions such as prohibiting him from contacting the witness.
He said the victim was currently staying with Matsidi's wife.
To this, his lawyer Najmuddin Daud said the accused had divorced his wife after the allegation was made against him.

Najmuddin asked for lower bail saying that the accused just started to work for a private company two months ago and that Matsidi, who is the third son of six siblings had to support his parents and siblings.

Sessions Court judge Mohd Nasir Nordin set his bail at RM10,000 in one surety and ordered him to report to the nearest police station once a month until the disposal of the case.
Mohd Nasir also forbade him from contacting the victim or he risked having his bail withdrawn.
He set Sept 26 for mention to fix a trial date after DPP Geethan said the prosecution wanted the court to hear the evidence of the maid soon.

Maid threatens to jump off building

PENANG: An Indonesian maid, who threatened to jump off from a 32-storey apartment block in Sungai Dua, was coaxed into giving up after an hour.

An apartment security guard, who declined to be named, said the maid was seen perching on the railings along the corridor of one of the floors at about 1am yesterday.
He said he alerted the police and Fire Services and Rescue Department after several attempts to get her off the railings failed.

Police and firemen managed to get the maid to safety at about 2am, he said.
The 22-year-old woman was sent to the Penang Hospital for a check-up.
Police sources said she made a police report later claiming that she resorted to committing suicide because she could not tolerate the constant abuse from the employer.

Police are investigating the allegation. The maid is reported to be in stable condition.
It is understood that she would be handed over to the Indonesian Consulate soon.

Jakarta gesa KL segera dakwa majikan dera amah

JAKARTA: Indonesia semalam menggesa Malaysia mempercepatkan kes pendakwaan terhadap majikan yang dituduh mendera pembantu rumah warga Jakarta.Malah, Jakarta menegaskan Kuala Lumpur perlu mengenakan hukuman seberat-beratnya yang bertindak sebagai cara mengelak kejadian sama berulang.

Gesaan itu dibuat di tengah-tengah hubungan tegang di antara dua negara jiran itu membabitkan kes membabitkan dakwaan seorang jurulatih karate Indonesia oleh polis Malaysia.Dua kes penderaan terbaru membabitkan tindakan pembantu rumah yang sanggup keluar menerusi tingkap pangsapuri menggunakan tali, atas alasan tidak tahan didera majikan Malaysia mereka.Bulan lalu, seorang wanita Malaysia didakwa kerana terbabit dalam pembunuhan pembantu rumahnya.“Kami berharap kerajaan Malaysia mengambil tindakan tegas yang dapat menjadi cara mengelak perkara itu berulang,” tegas jurucakap Kementerian Luar, Kristiarto Legowo pada sidang media, semalam.

Dalam satu kes tiga tahun lalu, seorang pembantu rumah Indonesia mendakwa dia didera dengan seterika, dicurah air panas oleh isteri majikannya. Perbicaraan kes itu masih berlangsung.Kemarahan Indonesia dikatakan semakin ketara selepas insiden mendakwa jurulatih karate itu dikasari polisMalaysia sudah membuat permohonan rasmi berhubung kejadian itu yang menyaksikan rakyat Indonesia mengadakan beratus-ratus bantahan di sekitar negara itu, selain tindakan ahli Parlimennya meminta produk Malaysia diboikot.

Kuala Lumpur turut menegaskan, biarpun kira-kira 1,200 pembantu rumah Indonesia itu lari daripada majikan mereka setiap bulan, ia tidak merancang mewujudkan satu peraturan khas mengenai pekerjaan itu. – Reuters

Betrayed by former maid

Friday September 7, 2007

PENANG: An Indonesian man was arrested in connection with a rape-cum-robbery case involving a 38-year-old businesswoman in Tanjung Bungah here.

George Town deputy OCPD Supt Gan Kong Meng said the man, a construction worker, was picked up at about 3am in Tanjung Tokong on Wednes- day.
“He was the second suspect arrested in connection with the incident on Monday.
“We are looking for another Indonesian man, whom we have identified, to assist in investigations into the case,” he said.

An Indonesian woman, who was the victim’s former maid, was picked up in Datuk Keramat on Tuesday, he said yesterday.
She was believed to have passed the apartment keys to the duo, he said.
The businesswoman was sleeping when the duo entered her bedroom at about 4.30am that day. They then blindfolded and tied her up before raping her.

They ransacked her apartment before fleeing with her hand-phone, cash and several bottles of liquor totalling more than RM4,000.

‘Try-before-you-hire’ illegal maid service

Wednesday September 5, 2007
Other News & ViewsCompiled by NG SI HOOI AND A. RAMAN

A SYNDICATE is offering “maid express” service for RM100, Kosmo! reported.
The syndicate is active in the Klang Valley, including Shah Alam and Puchong.
Those interested can try out the service of the maids before hiring them permanently.
The daily's reporter went undercover and found out that the service received encouraging response. Maids were being hired everyday.

According to the person in charge, known only as Ibu Tuti, those interested could come anytime to pick up the maids from her house.
“If you interested, we have one maid available now.
“But they do not have any valid document except their passports,” Ibu Tuti told the reporter.
It is learned that some of the maids had run away from their previous employers.

“Some had just arrived from their villages (in Indonesia) and some had changed to different employers as they could not stand the work,” she said.
Malaysian Association of Foreign Housemaids Agencies president Datuk Raja Zulkepley Dahalan warned those hiring an illegal maid of the complications that may arise later.

Induction course for Indonesian maids

Friday August 31, 2007
By FLORENCE A. SAMY

KUALA LUMPUR: Beginning October, Indonesia will have an induction course for those wanting to work in Malaysia as maids, says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn.
"We have suggested to the Indonesian Government that maids from Indonesia be given an induction course for them to better understand our culture and the country's situation," he said when met after the Merdeka parade at Dataran Merdeka Friday.

Dr Fong was asked to comment on a recent case where an 11-month-old baby died after allegedly being abused by a foreign maid. A 32-year-old Indonesian maid had been arrested pending further investigations.

Following the recent incident, Dr Fong said his officer had spoken to an Indonesian officer about the need for maids to follow induction courses.

"They have agreed at the policy stage. I have been told that they will start the induction course this October.
"By attending the course, we hope that they will adapt better when they come here," he added.

Maid kicked, stomped child

By MUZLIZA MUSTAFA

SHE was kicked so hard that she was sent sprawling to the floor.
When the three-year-old got up, the maid grabbed her by the hand and started kicking her again repeatedly. Again, she was sent sprawling like a rag doll.

Like a woman possessed, the maid repeatedly stomped on the girl’s frail body. She stopped after a while, but continued stomping on the girl moments later.
This cruel act by an Indonesian maid was recorded by a young couple using a webcam installed in the living room of their condominium in Jalan Kuching.
But it could have been a different story if the couple had not had the presence of mind to make the recording.

When confronted on Tuesday, the 18-year-old maid allegedly tried to jump off the couple’s fourth fl oor condominium balcony, prompting a cleaner to call the police.
When the cops arrived, she told them that she had been assaulted by the couple.
Police then hauled the employers, their children and the maid to the Sentul police station for questioning.

The couple spent hours explaining what had happened, and it was during questioning that they produced the footage to back up their claim that their daughter had been abused.
The couple, who had been married for three years, also claimed that the maid had abused their one-year-old son as well. They lodged a report on the alleged abuse the next day.
The couple had told police that they had installed the webcam two weeks ago after their daughter frequently complained of stomach pain.
When they asked the maid, she allegedly told them that it could be because the girl took too much yogurt drinks.

Suspicious, the couple decided to install a webcam on the personal computer in the living room.
In the fi rst week, they caught the maid abusing their youngest. They confronted her and warned her not to repeat it.

On Tuesday, she did it again — this time, the couple’s threeyear- old girl was the target.
But before they could lodge a complaint with the authorities, the maid turned the tables around.
When police arrived after being alerted by the cleaner, the maid told police that she had been assaulted.

The maid sustained injuries to the head and several other parts of her body. She was sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Police are investigating whether the injuries had been self-infl icted or caused by others.
The maid, in her police report, had claimed that the couple was responsible for the injuries.
It is learnt that the maid’s 29- year-old female employer, who works with a shopping mall in the city, had returned home when she felt “uneasy” while working.

She felt the need to check on her maid and children.
Her husband of three years, a 26-year-old computer programmer, arrived later. It was when they checked the recording that they discovered what the maid had done to their daughter.
It was the third time unlucky for the couple. Their fi rst two maids ran away after working with them for less than a year.

The maid allegedly involved in the abuses had been working with them for more than a year.
The Malay Mail spoke to the couple who said their children had been sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for medical check-ups.

The husband declined to give The Malay Mail access to the footage of the alleged incident.
“We are afraid of the impact it might have on the children. We are sorry,” he said.
The wife said she did not know if they would get a maid after the episode.
“There are those lucky enough to get good maids, and there are those who are not as fortunate,” she said.

Kuala Lumpur CID chief senior Assistant Commissioner II Ku Chin Wah confi rmed that police were investigating both reports.
He said police have also retrieved the recordings from the couple.
“We are also investigating the maid’s claim that the couple had infl icted injuries on her with a weapon,” he said.
Ku said the couple was released early yesterday after police recorded their statements.

The maid has been remanded.

Cadangan PAPA tak munasabah

PERSATUAN Agensi Pembantu Rumah Asing (Papa) mencadangkan setiap pengambilan pembantu rumah mestilah melalui agensi dan memansuhkan pengambilan secara individu. Alasan mereka, ada kes orang gaji yang diambil secara individu didera dan tidak mempunyai tempat pengaduan. Soalnya, berapa peratus kes penderaan membabitkan pembantu rumah persendirian berbanding melalui agensi? Saya sendiri mempunyai seorang pembantu rumah yang saya ambil secara sendiri dan setakat ini sudah hampir dua tahun tidak mempunyai apa-apa masalah. Kalau benar persatuan berkenaan hendak memansuhkan pengambilan secara persendirian, selaraskan nilai pembayaran bagi urusan itu.

Berbanding melalui agensi, pengambilan secara persendirian boleh berjimat sehingga RM2,000. Sanggupkah persatuan menurunkan pembayaran melalui agensi sebanyak itu?Bagaimana pula keadaannya dengan kebanyakan pembantu rumah melalui agensi yang melarikan diri? Masing-masing mempunyai pro dan kontranya.

Janganlah mengeksploitasi satu masalah dan menutup masalah lain. Jadi, saya tidak setuju jika permintaan persatuan diluluskan.Berkaitan insuran, memang dialu-alukan kerana ia saling membantu pembantu dan majikan sekiranya terjadi kejadian tidak diingini.Diharap kerajaan mengambil pandangan dari segala sudut dan janganlah undang-undang dilaksanakan bagi menguntungkan sebelah pihak saja.

Perlu diingat bahawa kebanyakan orang yang mengambil pembantu rumah ini adalah daripada golongan sederhana membabitkan suami isteri bekerja.Janganlah dibebani dengan penguatkuasaan pengambilan pembantu rumah melalui agensi yang mengenakan bayaran sehingga RM6,000 berbanding secara persendirian antara RM3,000 dan RM4,000 saja.

MAJIKAN PRIHATIN

Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.

Lindungi sama majikan pembantu rumah

JUMAAT lalu, muka depan Utusan Malaysia melaporkan bahawa lebih 300,000 majikan di negara ini yang menggunakan khidmat pembantu rumah warga asing bakal diwajibkan membayar premium insurans.

Polisi insurans itu meliputi perlindungan kes kematian, kemalangan dan pembiayaan hospital. Cadangan itu pastinya amat dialu-alukan memandangkan kes-kes penderaan ke atas pembantu rumah oleh majikan sering kali disiarkan media massa sejak kebelakangan ini.

Alangkah bertuah mereka kerana selepas ini nasib mereka semakin terbela. Persoalannya, pada pihak majikan, apakah jaminan pembantu rumah atau orang gaji yang mereka terima adalah seorang pekerja yang bertanggungjawab?

Saya berkata demikian berdasarkan pengalaman sendiri mempunyai tiga pembantu rumah warga Indonesia. Orang gaji pertama saya terima pada 2004 menerusi agensi dengan bayaran RM4,000. Bagaimanapun, tragedi tsunami di Aceh meragut nyawa salah seorang anaknya.
Ekoran kejadian tersebut, beliau sering termenung dan tidak boleh menumpukan langsung pada tugas-tugasnya.
Atas rasa simpati, saya menghantarnya pulang ke kampung setelah beliau berjanji akan pulang seminggu kemudian.

Namun, setelah seminggu, beliau tidak juga kembali. Saya terpaksa membatalkan permit kerja beliau dengan membayar penalti RM250 bagi mendapatkan orang gaji baru.
Saya cuba meminta pengganti daripada agensi tetapi mereka menyalahkan saya kerana membenarkan orang gaji pulang ke kampung. Orang gaji kedua saya peroleh beberapa bulan kemudian menerusi agensi yang sama dengan bayaran juga RM4,000.

Walaupun kerjanya tidak seberapa, saya terpaksa menerimanya demi menjaga tiga orang anak kerana saya dan suami bekerja. Selepas setahun, saya memperbaharui permit kerja beliau.
Sekali lagi malang menimpa, pemeriksaan kesihatan mendapati beliau menghidap hepatitis sejak tiga tahun lalu walhal laporan kesihatan di Indonesia mengesahkan beliau sihat tanpa sebarang penyakit. (Peraturan baru Jabatan Imigresen sekarang mewajibkan orang gaji menjalani pemeriksaan kesihatan di Malaysia dan Indonesia bagi mendapat permit kerja).

Saya terpaksa membatalkan permit kerja dan menghantarnya pulang. Sekali lagi saya terpaksa mengeluarkan RM4,000 untuk mendapatkan khidmat orang gaji baru, kali ini daripada agensi berbeza. Orang gaji ketiga begitu rajin dan boleh diharap, tidak seperti dua orang sebelum ini. Disangka panas hingga ke petang, rupanya hujan di tengah hari.
Orang gaji ketiga melarikan diri Khamis lalu setelah setahun bekerja. Mujurlah ketika kejadian, saya dan suami masih belum keluar rumah untuk bekerja. Kalau tidak, entah apalah nasib anak-anak saya sekiranya kejadian berlaku semasa saya dan suami tiada di rumah.

Saya terpaksa membatalkan permit kerja beliau bagi mendapatkan orang gaji baru. Sekali lagi saya terpaksa membayar penalti RM250 dan RM4,000. Persoalan saya di sini, apakah hak majikan sekiranya orang gaji membuat ‘hal’?

Apakah tiada undang-undang yang membolehkan majikan menuntut ganti rugi sekiranya berdepan masalah seperti ini? Berpuluh ribu ringgit duit saya hilang begitu sahaja akibat ‘perbuatan’ mereka. Saya percaya ramai lagi majikan yang pernah menerima nasib seperti saya.
Justeru, saya memohon kerajaan membuat peraturan baru bagi melindungi hak majikan. Janganlah beruk di hutan disusukan, anak sendiri mati kelaparan.

– MAJIKAN MALANG,
Ampang, Selangor.

Couple charged over maid’s death

SHE claimed that she only understood simple Malay.And she told the court that she had no problem admitting to murdering her maid. But magistrate Maimoonah Aid made clear to her that she was not asking for her plea.

At the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court yesterday, 29-year- old housewife Cheng Pei Ee was charged with the murder of her Indonesian maid, known only as Kunasir, under Section 302 of the Penal Code.Cheng was alleged to have committed the offence on Aug 14 at her house at 40, Jalan Mawar 1A, Puchong Perdana, Puchong, between 5pm and 7pm. She faces the mandatory death sentence.

Maimoonah ordered her case to be transferred to the Shah Alam High Court and set Sept 4 for mention.Cheng’s husband, Goo Eng Keng, who was initially arrested as one of the suspects in the case, was charged with causing the disappearance of evidence or giving false information to protect his wife.

The 34-year-old contractor was charged under Section 201 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail sentence of 10 years and a fine.He was charged with committing the offence at 12.15pm on Aug 15 at the same place.He claimed trial to the charge and the case would be mentioned on Sept 4 at the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court.Goo was released on a RM6,000 bail.

The couple, who have two children aged four and nine months, were arrested after the body of Kunasir was found in her room at 7pm on Aug 14.

'BIBIK SETAN!'

By PEARL LEE

ON Monday, 11-month-old Mohd Naim Alma Zaadi died.
He had allegedly been abused by his Indonesian maid.
Yesterday, at the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court, police applied for an extension on her remand order.

When the family heard that she would be there, they decided to give her a ‘reception’.
Seething with anger, they hurled abuse at the maid who cowered and covered her face as she was brought in to court.

“Bibik setan! Tak payah tutup muka tu, tak payah malu, buka jer muka tu; setan, setan!” they yelled. BIBIK setan! Tak payah tutup muka tu, tak payah malu, buka jer muka tu; setan, setan! ( Yo u ’re an evil maid. No need to cover you face, just show your evil face!”) Those were among the abuse hurled by the relatives of 11-month-old Mohd Naim Alma Zaadi to his Indonesian maid, who was remanded in connection with the toddler’s death.

Mohd Naim’s relatives came in full force at the Petaling Jaya ma- gi s t ra t e ’s court yesterday during the granting of an extension to the maid’s remand order.
They included Mohd Naim’s sib- lings, cousin, grandmother, uncle and aunt. They came at 2pm.
His parents, Norashikin Mohd Ali and Alma Zaadi Annwar, were not there as they were still griev- ing over his death.

“We are here to give her a piece of our mind. His brother and sis- ter are also here to represent their p a re nt s, ” said Mohd Naim’s grand- mother, Hanipah Abdul Jalil, 67.
Mohd Naim died on Monday at 12.30am at Subang Jaya Medical Centre after being warded the week before.

The toddler was brought to the hospital on Aug 22, when the maid called and told Norashikin that he had had two epileptic fits. However, doctors found that he had a cracked skull.
They told Norashikin that the crack was fresh and suspected that it could be due to abuse.
The maid was then remanded by police. After the toddler died, the case was reclassified as murder.

“How does one explain to a four-year-old boy that he will never see his baby brother again,” said Hanipah.
This is the predicament faced by the family in trying to explain Mohd Naim’s death to his brother, Mohd Naufal.
“He cried when he saw his mother crying after performing her evening prayers yesterday, but he does not really know what’s going on.” “He had been asking us about his brother, and we told him that God loves Mohd Naim and had taken him back,” Hanipah said.
Speaking to The Malay Mail out- side the court yesterday, Hanipah said Naim was her 16th grandchild and the youngest.

She said the last time she saw him was at her home in Kuantan, a week before he was warded.
“It breaks my heart each time I realise that I will never see my grandson again,” she added.
Mohd Naim’s aunt, Noor Adzilah Mohd Salih, 38, said Mohd Naufal and his six-year-old sister, Nurul Nasuha, were at the court because they wanted to see the hantu who had allegedly caused Mohd Naim’s death .

“I feel bad because I was the one who recommended the maid agency to my sister-in-law,” s he said.
“We are here to support the parents and the other family members who are all grieving at ho me, ” she said.

Nurul Nasuha, who was waiting anxiously for bibik’s arrival, kept asking her aunt when she would arrive. She sat up straight when she spotted the maid arriving in a police van.
The little girl was also seen yelling at the maid when she was brought to court yesterday.
Magistrate Maimoonah Aid ex- tended the remand order to Sept 5 after an application was made by the prosecuting officer.

Lebam digigit majikan

Oleh Mohd Nur Asnawi Daud dan Abdullah Wahab

SUBANG JAYA: Seorang majikan 'bertopengkan syaitan' tergamak mendera pembantu rumahnya sehingga mangsa terpaksa menerima rawatan di Hospital Serdang, kerana mengalami kecederaan teruk pada badan dan muka.Objek keras dipercayai batu serta benda tajam dikatakan menjadi 'hidangan' mangsa hampir setiap hari sejak beberapa hari lalu, walaupun hanya melakukan kesalahan kecil.Malah tidak cukup dengan penderaan itu, majikan yang berumur 40-an terbabit dikatakan turut menggigit dan menumbuk muka mangsa tanpa belas kasihan.

Penderaan itu bagaimanapun berakhir selepas jiran yang melihat kejadian itu bersimpati dengan nasib mangsa sebelum memaklumkannya kepada polis.
Berikutan itu, polis menahan seorang wanita kira-kira jam 8.30 malam kelmarin di rumahnya di Bandar Puteri Puchong, di sini, bagi membantu siasatan.

Timbalan Ketua Polis Daerah Subang Jaya, Superintendan Jaafar Md Said, berkata siasatan awal mendapati mangsa, seorang pembantu rumah warga Indonesia berumur 27 tahun, mengalami luka dan kesan lebam pada muka dan badan dipercayai didera.Menurutnya, sejurus menerima aduan polis bergegas ke rumah mangsa dan menahan wanita terbabit yang juga seorang akauntan bagi membantu siasatan.

"Berdasarkan kecederaan yang dialami, iaitu kesan lebam di mata dan mulut, kita syak dia (mangsa) didera."Mangsa kemudian dihantar ke Hospital Serdang bagi membuat pemeriksaan dan rawatan lanjut," katanya di sini, semalam.Difahamkan pembantu rumah malang itu baru setahun bekerja dengan majikan terbabit dan dia dikatakan mula didera pada 19 Ogos lalu.Jaafar berkata, perbuatan tidak berperikemanusiaan itu tidak seharusnya berlaku apatah lagi yang melakukannya adalah seorang wanita berpelajaran.

"Akauntan wanita itu kini ditahan reman bagi membantu siasatan mengikut Seksyen 324 Kanun Keseksaan," katanya.

Dalam kejadian di Puchong Perdana pada 15 Ogos lalu, seorang pembantu rumah warga asing berusia 24 tahun ditemui mati dalam bilik tidurnya dalam keadaan mencurigakan berikutan polis menemui kesan lebam pada belakang badan dan leher.

More transparency in maid insurance

Wednesday August 29, 2007

THE General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) has rolled out new requirements for employment agencies selling maid insurance to employers.
Such insurance, which is compulsory for anyone who wants to employ a maid, is meant to protect the maid’s welfare.

The new scheme – to boost transparency and professionalism in the insurance sales process – requires employment agencies distributing this insurance to be registered with the GIA, and have at least one staff member trained and qualified in selling the Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) insurance.

GIA hopes that with these new rules in place, potential employers will know what type of coverage they are getting for their maids, based on the premium paid for the insurance policy.
From Nov 1, all GIA member companies will only accept FDW insurance from employment agencies that are registered as a “Trade Specific Agent” (TSA).
To be licensed as a TSA, an employment agency will need to meet certain criteria and service standards.

The TSA will need to sign an Agency Agreement with each of the insurers the agency is representing. It will also have to submit a Letter of Undertaking that the agency is only selling FDW insurance, and not other products.

The employment agency will also ensure that there is at least one staff member trained and certified to sell the insurance at its place of business.
The FDW insurance covers maids for personal accidents and injuries as well as hospitalisation expenses. – The Straits Times / Asia News Network

One maid murdered, another faces murder charge

SUBANG JAYA: One maid was murdered while another is facing a murder charge in two unrelated incidents in Subang Jaya in the past two weeks.

About 12.30am on Sunday, 11-month-old Mohd Naim Alma Zaadi, who was warded at the Subang Jaya Medical Centre for alleged abuse, succumbed to his injuries after being hospitalised for five days.An Indonesian maid had been picked up from a house in Putra Heights by police to facilitate investigations into the case.Following Naim’s death, the case has now been reclassified as murder. The maid, 32, has been remanded until Aug 29.The baby’s head was swollen and there were also signs of bruises in medical tests carried out last Wednesday.

The baby’s mother, Norashikin Mohd Ali, 37, said it was a case of "biting the hand that feeds you"."We will never forgive the maid for her actions and can only wait for judgment day when she has to answer for what she has done," the grief-stricken assistant manager said."We treated her like a member of the family."Our trust in the maid was misplaced and now, my baby paid the price for it."Her husband, businessman Alma Zaadi Annwar, 36, declined to speak to reporters during his youngest son’s burial at the Muslim cemetery in USJ 22.The couple have another 4-year-old son.

In the other case, a couple who have been detained by police in connection with the death of their Indonesian maid, are expected to be charged on Thursday.The man is expected to be charged with destroying evidence while his wife is to be charged for murder.Kunasir, 24, from Central Java, was found dead in a double-storey terrace house in Puchong Perdana last Tuesday.She was found in her room about 7pm with bruises on her neck and back.

Her employers were picked up to facilitate investigations.

Police later obtained a remand order for the contractor, in his 30s, and his 29-year-old wife from the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed both the cases, saying that police had wrapped up investigations on the couple and would be charging them on Thursday.

"In the case of the baby’s death, we will seek an extension of the remand if we have not completed our investigations by tomorrow," he said.

Maid escapes through 22nd floor window

KUALA LUMPUR: After being allegedly abused, an Indonesian maid tried to escape from her employer.

When her employer, who employed her to take care of her 22nd floor condominium in Jalan Klang Lama here, was away with her family in Sitiawan, Perak, the maid escaped by climbing out of the window about 3pm.A neighbour, who saw her leaving the unit through the window, called a security guard.By the time the guard arrived, the maid was already on a ledge of the 17th floor.The guard, thinking she wanted to jump, persuaded her not to do it.

After some time, she relented and was brought to safety about 5pm.The 21-year-old maid from Java Tengah had been working for her employer for four months.According to the guard, the maid had marks on her lips, legs and hands."She was weak and claimed that she was abused by her employer."She also claimed that her employer had a closed-circuilt television camera in the house to monitor her every move," he said.

A police spokesman said the maid lodge a police report against her employer after she was brought to safety.She was also sent to hospital for a check-up.