Another Indonesian maid suffers abuse in Malaysia

Another Indonesian maid has allegedly been abused by a Malaysian employer.Modesta Rangga, 26, told the Indonesian Embassy on Friday she had been abused almost daily since she started working with her employer in Kampung Ampang Baru, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, almost two years ago.Modesta claims she suffered a severed right earlobe, and had bruises on her body and thighs as well as scars on her face.She alleged that her employer had hit her with a cane, sticks and even punched her in the face and body, and also claimed she was only given one meal per day, sometimes none at all.“My boss would sometimes throw rice into the drain and make me eat from there,” said Modesta, who was born in Sumba Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur.Modesta also claimed she had not been paid since she started working with her employer in November 2007. Her salary was supposed to be RM500 (Rp 1.4 million) a month.The latest incident allegedly happened at midnight on Thursday after her employer asked her why she had not done the laundry.“I told my boss it was going to rain and I was afraid the clothes would get wet if I aired them. She just started hitting me and locked me out of the house,” Modesta said, adding that her employer would also make her work in her mother’s house in Kampung Baru.Neighbours who saw the maid outside the house alerted the police.Police picked up the employer for questioning at Pandan Indan police station and later remanded her. Modesta was sent to Ampang Hospital for treatment.Indonesian Embassy spokesman Widyarka Ryananta said doctors confirmed Modesta’s hearing had been impaired. “Her right eye is also damaged,” Widyarka said.