THE Human Resources Ministry said it would conduct further investigations into the case of 171 Bangladeshi migrants who failed to find employment in Johor.

Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said he instructed agencies under his ministry to conduct immediate investigations, including by summoning the agents involved in the recruitment of the 117 foreigners.

“I will also meet with Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to discuss and improve the policy on foreign labour,” he said.

Sim was speaking to reporters after visiting the family of 28-year-old technician R. Tinesh Kumar, who died while conducting maintenance work on a lift at a shopping complex in Jalan Burmah, George Town, on Tuesday.

Sim, who is also Bukit Mertajam MP, said this when asked about the recruitment of 171 Bangladeshis who have remained unemployed for months since coming here.

Kota Tinggi police chief Hussin Zamora confirmed the arrests of the workers and said they were legally brought into Malaysia, but their agent has yet to provide them with work after three months.

Earlier, a video showing the Bangladeshis walking in a large group went viral on social media, causing uneasiness among locals.

The foreigners were understood to be heading to the Bayu Damai police station, about 10km away from their living quarters, to lodge a police report against their agent for not providing them with jobs. – Bernama, December 30, 2023.