Stop protecting modern slavery syndicates, Syed Saddiq says

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has condemned “modern slavery” involving foreign workers in Malaysia, following Malaysiakini’s report on the abuse of foreign worker quotas.

The network of syndicates involved in the issue clearly affects the country’s dignity while involving the lives of people most vulnerable to risk, Syed Saddiq (above) told Malaysiakini.

He urged the police and MACC to immediately investigate the matter and arrest those involved.

“Congratulations to Malaysiakini who dared to expose the network of modern slavery through the investigative journalism of its team.

ADS

“Enough of protecting the modern slavery network in Malaysia,” he said.

Making millions

Earlier today, Malaysiakini published an exclusive report on a syndicate said to be making millions of ringgit in profit by monopolising the supply of foreign workers.

“A to B” syndicates exploit the government’s recruitment system by securing excess quotas of migrant workers, and then selling or renting them to other industries for profit.

Malaysiakini understands that the syndicate has grown rapidly since 1996 and is difficult to stop due to the complicity of civil enforcement officers.

Checks also found that the syndicate makes annual profits of at least hundreds of thousands of ringgit through the process of renewing Temporary Employment Visit Passes or selling worker quotas.

Act immediately

During the debate session in the Dewan Rakyat today, Syed Saddiq once again insisted that the authorities act immediately on the matter.

“I urge the Home Ministry to arrest syndicate A, syndicate B and the officers responsible from top to bottom.

“Destroy this network and do not allow the modern slavery network to exist here,” he said.

He also said that the practice of “selling” and “hiring” foreign workers is one of the main causes behind the increase in the prices of goods.

This is because the practice leads to increased costs for the companies that rely on these workers, he explained.

“In the end, the companies that need these foreign workers have to pay money in advance... and when the price of goods goes up, the people are also affected,” he said.

“Foreign workers have their dignity pawned, treated like slaves, because there are parties who profit under the table because of fraud and political ‘cable’ that are still rampant to this day,” he claimed again. - Mkini