Indonesian Domestic Worker Rescued After 16 Years of Abuse in Malaysia

In Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia, an Indonesian domestic worker who endured nearly 16 years of physical, mental, and financial abuse has been rescued following a special operation by the Immigration Department on Monday, 24 November.

Datuk Zakariah Shaban, Director-General of Immigration, revealed that the 56-year-old woman was discovered hiding under a car on her employer’s instructions—a manifestation of prolonged fear and extreme stress. She had been working without valid documentation for almost 16 years and, despite being promised a monthly salary of 600 ringgit, had not received any wages for the past two years. Her daily life was marked by verbal abuse, physical violence, and financial exploitation.

Her personal freedom had been severely restricted. She was prohibited from keeping her passport, forbidden from using a mobile phone, and completely cut off from contact with her family. She was only allowed to rest or sleep when her employer was not watching, living under constant surveillance and control.

Following the rescue operation, a 51-year-old Malaysian man was arrested. He admitted that the woman had been employed in their household through a relative, highlighting the role of intermediaries in exploiting vulnerable foreign workers.

The case is now under investigation under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM Act 670). Officers from the ATIPSOM prevention unit and the anti-money laundering investigation team were involved in the operation, using the National Guideline on Human Trafficking Indicators 2.0 to identify and confirm the victim.

Datuk Zakariah emphasised that the Immigration Department treats all information regarding human trafficking with utmost seriousness and vowed that strict action will be taken against offenders. The public has been urged to report any suspected exploitation of foreign domestic workers or other foreign employees by contacting 03-88801471 or emailing urusetia_p@imi.gov.my.

The case underscores the continued vulnerability of migrant domestic workers and the importance of vigilance, legal protection, and proactive enforcement. Authorities hope that the successful rescue will raise awareness about human trafficking and encourage the reporting of abuses to prevent similar long-term exploitation in the future.

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