Indonesian worker dies evading Malaysian police

JAKARTA: An Indonesian worker jumped to his death from the Kerinchi Link toll bridge to avoid a routine patrol in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday, Antara state news agency reported Sunday morning.

Brickfield Police chief Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said the man suddenly got off the motorcycle on which he was riding pillion and jumped off the 20-meter-high bridge onto a toll road below.

He died instantly.

According to Antara, the deceased's companion, who was driving the motorcycle, had slowed down upon seeing a police checkpoint.

The police had asked the two to pull over after noticing their suspicious behavior.

However, upon questioning, the two Indonesians appeared to hold legal residency documents and passports.

The 30-year-old deceased was reportedly on his way to Taman Tun Dr. Ismail.

The Malaysian police are currently investigating the case.

According to latest government reports, some 2 million Indonesians work in Malaysia as maids, construction workers and plantation workers.

Of this total, half are in the country illegally, with no legal or health protection.

The situation has led to rampant abuse of the workers, with more than 2,000 complaints filed with the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur each month, an official said recently. -JP