Maid sues RI, Malaysian govts

MEDAN: The Indonesian NGO Committee for Migrant Labor filed suit yesterday on behalf of Arfah binti Saripado against the Malaysian and Indonesia governments, her Malaysian employers and the labor company which sent her to Malaysia.

Renny Julia of the committee told The Jakarta Post here yesterday that the suit was filed at the Medan District Court under Court Registration No. 316/Pdt.G/1998/PN-Mdn.

The suit contends that Malaysian authorities did not seriously follow up on alleged abuse that Arfah, 45, suffered while working as a housemaid for Muhammad Hanif B. Idris and his wife Salimi.

Arfah reportedly sustained long-term scars as a result of the abuse, which included having boiling water thrown on her.

The Indonesian government and the labor export company who sent her to Malaysia in July 1997 were included for failing to extend necessary protection to her. (21)