Malaysian police have been prosecuting Bangladesh migrant workers instead of the employers who have confiscated the workers' passports and failed to provide them with jobs and salaries, alleged the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM).

In a letter to Malaysian Attorney General (AG) Datuk Ahmed Terrirudin bin Mohd Salleh on April 3, PSM's Deputy Chairman S Arutchelvan wrote that despite complaints to the police and the Human Resources Department, filed by the migrants and the PSM, no action has been taken against the employers.

"Instead, police are now investigating fake complaints made by the employers against the workers," the letter read.

Meanwhile, an employing company Beaks Construction and its subsidiary Suria Harmoni filed a defamation case against the PSM and a Malaysian online news portal Malaysiakini on April 5, claiming that the allegations against them were untrue, said PSM Labour Bureau Head Sivaranjani Manickam...

He urged the AG to take action ensuring that police stop prosecuting the workers until an independent investigation is carried out.

"I believe the relations between the police and the employers are too close and suspicious … We [PSM] call for action against the employers, who appear to be immune."...