Indians abused in Malaysia

More than 200 Indian nationals working in a Malaysian factory have alleged that they were being abused by their employment agent and are desperate to return home after three of their colleagues were brutally beaten up.

The 264 Indian workers, employed at a factory in Senai in Johor state, claimed their agent started abusing them when they arrived in Malaysia two years ago.

All the major Indian newspapers carried this news. Reading through the Rediff comments, it will be observed that there are flames from some angry Indians. The anger at the abuse is understandable and action must be taken to prevent such abuse. At the same time those who perpetrated the abuse must be held accountable according to the law. While the religion of the employer who allegedly inflicted the abuse is unknown, some have called for action against Muslims because it has happened in Malaysia which has a majority Muslim population.

The abuse will have to be investigated without bringing any religion in the picture because no religion calls for abuse of rights of other people. Every time something goes wrong it may be easier to scapegoat Islam but it does not solve the underlying problems of poverty, abuse, unemployment and oppression. It only distracts focus from the underlying problems.