POLICE are investigating a case of alleged abuse of an Indonesian domestic worker at the hands of a PKR former division youth chief.

Malaysiakini reported the man had not paid her salary for four years and had subjected her to physical and verbal abuse.

He also forced her to strip before scalding her with hot water as punishment for leaving the front gate open, said the report.

The case is filed under section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means.

“He is a party member but does not hold any position anymore,” PKR chief organising secretary Zahir Hassan said contacted by the news portal.

It was also revealed that the alleged culprit, who is a Datuk – smashed a flower pot on the victim’s hands, which he had made her splay on the floor.

“This broke my little finger and permanently disfigured it,” she was reported as saying.

In another incident, she said he threatened to beat her if she did not remove her clothes, and when she did, he splashed hot water on her.

The beatings started almost as soon as the woman commenced work at the politician’s household in 2018, the maid said.

She said she was beaten with a golf club, baton, bamboo cane, and a handphone and that she was rarely taken to the clinic to treat her wounds.

The 57-year-old woman is currently in the custody of the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Hermono, who goes by only one name, said the man’s name will be put on the list of Malaysians barred from entering Indonesia.

Indonesia has blacklisted 103 Malaysians from entry over instances of abuse and various forms of labour exploitation of its citizens.

“The cycle of abuse and exploitation targeting Indonesian domestic workers persisted, often in the hands of people holding important social standing, wealth, and education,” said Hermono

“These are the people who purposefully disregard the rights of workers and hold a contemptuous view of domestic workers.” – September 4, 2023.