Murder of migrant woman worker

From Media Indonesia

Women's Solidarity herewith expresses deep sorrow and sympathy over the murder of Ms. Siamah, an Indonesian migrant worker, on Oct. 9, 2000 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We pray to God the surviving family will have the strength to accept this ordeal and that the soul of the deceased will be accepted by Allah in proportion to her deeds during her life.

Siamah came from Sruni village, Klakah subdistrict, Lumajang, East Java. She was married to Subra, who is of Indian descent, and had two children. From February 2000, she worked as a cleaner at a number of offices in Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She lived with her family in Batu Sepuluh, Sungai W, Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur.

At 9:15 p.m. local time on Oct. 9, 2000, Siamah was found dead on Jl. Taman Sari in Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. According to Subra, the local police informed him that Siamah had been fatally stabbed in the back, sustained head injuries and had minor wounds on other parts of her body. The murderer, according to the police report, ran away with Siamah's RM 12,000, jewelry, a handbag and a cellular phone.

Siamah's body was brought back to Indonesia on Oct. 14, 2000 on board flight GIA 909 from Kuala Lumpur to Surabaya. The body has now been buried.

Now, we wish to make a request to the Malaysian government, through their envoy in Jakarta that: 1. An investigation be conducted so that her murderer can be apprehended and penalized pursuant to prevailing laws; 2. Accurate information about legal proceedings to which Indonesians are subjected be made known to the victim's family.

It is our belief that Malaysia upholds justice and applies it fairly and without discrimination to the whole population, including foreign workers.

RUSDI TAGAROA

Chairman of Women's Solidarity of LABMI

Advocacy Institute for Indonesia's Migrant Workers