Source: 200 Indian workers believed duped by agents denied entry into Malaysia

Some 200 Indian nationals were denied entry into Malaysia from April 1 after being issued "Not to Land" orders by the Immigration Department, sources at the department in KLIA said.

Many of the individuals are believed to be workers who had paid unauthorised labour agents to enter the country to work.

This comes as the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur said "several" of its citizens were issued "Not to Land" orders by the Immigration Department because they did not have proof of sufficient funds, accommodations and return tickets home.

Corroborating immigration sources, an India-based advocacy group said 197 Indian nationals were sent back after being denied entry.

A total of 110 had return tickets while the rest were given a free trip back on a budget airline, Pravasi Legal Cell's Malaysia and Singapore coordinator Zahir Hussain told Malaysiakini.

Describing it as a "serious problem", Zahir said they were flown back to Bangalore last Friday.

'Agents duped workers into entering Malaysia as tourists'

Zahir said the workers had tried to enter Malaysia under the guise of tourists and each of them paid close to RM8,500 to unauthorised agents.

"They were promised that they would be given special permission to work in Malaysia.

"Our organisation is creating awareness material to disseminate to potential victims of these labour touts, but people have already fallen prey to their enticing promises," he said.

Zahir said the victims of illegal agents travelled from various parts of India, not only from the southern states of Tamil Nadu or Kerala, where workers traditionally originate.

He said Malaysian employers looking for cheap labour would seek out these unauthorised agents who housed these workers and offered them to employers for the time they were needed.

"The agents will take a cut from the workers' wages, and there is a standard rate.

"For example, in a restaurant, the maker of parotta (layered flatbread made from wheat) is paid RM100 per day, the tea maker RM80 per day, and the dishwasher is paid RM60 per day. But RM20 is deducted from each of their wages by their agents before they are paid.

"Because they are duped into coming to Malaysia as a tourist, they would have overstayed their passes and owing to their undocumented status, they cannot complain to anyone when their rights are abused," he explained.

Zahir said the workers are expected to work 12 to 14 hours a day and face beatings or other abuse should they refuse.

Indian High Commission urges compliance with Malaysian rules

When contacted on May 6, Indian High Commission Labour attache Prashant Kumar said the issue of Indian nationals detained at KLIA "would be solved in the evening of that day".

He has not been reachable for further comments since.

In its statement on May 5, the High Commission said, "in such cases, the Indian nationals have to remain inside KLIA till the airlines which brought them to Malaysia repatriates them back to the airport in India from where they have boarded the flights."

The High Commission added that such circumstances had caused undue hardship that was avoidable.

It advised its nationals to strictly follow all guidelines and comply with Malaysia's entry requirements. - Mkini