Key facts
- Four people were arrested in Johor, Malaysia, after videos emerged showing an Indonesian domestic worker being physically and verbally abused.
- The footage of the domestic worker's abuse was reportedly recorded in July of the previous year.
- Separately, eight individuals were arrested in connection with a viral video depicting a young man being severely beaten by a group in Pasir Gudang.
- The victim in the Pasir Gudang incident was reportedly lured to an apartment before being assaulted.
- A third video circulating online showed a Form One student allegedly involved in a bullying incident near a school in Kota Kinabalu.
Four individuals have been arrested in Malaysia's Johor state following the circulation of videos that appear to show an Indonesian domestic worker being subjected to physical and verbal abuse within a private residence. The incident has reignited concerns regarding the treatment of Indonesian domestic staff in Malaysia, where approximately 60,000 are officially registered to work in private homes, prompting calls for intervention from Jakarta.
Johor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad confirmed the arrests of two sisters and their husbands, aged between 30 and 34, at a house in Taman Johor. Police stated the footage was recorded on July 26 of the previous year. The videos show a woman and a man repeatedly striking the worker, while others verbally berate her. Social media claims suggested the worker was accused of injuring her employer's child, a claim that could not be independently verified.
In a separate incident, multiple video recordings have gone viral showing a young man being assaulted by a group of individuals in Pasir Gudang. The videos, lasting one to two minutes, depict the victim appearing weak and defenseless as he is punched and kicked by an estimated five to seven assailants. One video reportedly shows the victim's private parts being targeted. The victim sustained injuries including bleeding from the nose, and bruises on his body.
Police have arrested seven men and a woman, aged between 19 and 26, in connection with the Pasir Gudang assault. According to Seri Alam district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Sohaimi Ishak, the victim, aged 21, reported that he was invited to an apartment by a female acquaintance via social media and was subsequently confined and beaten. Five of the arrested suspects have prior criminal records, and four tested positive for methamphetamine. All suspects are remanded for six days for investigation.
A third viral video has also surfaced, allegedly showing a Form One student involved in a bullying incident near a school in Kota Kinabalu. Claims accompanying this video suggest it stemmed from a misunderstanding, and the victim was also allegedly threatened. The exact cause remains unconfirmed by authorities or the schools involved.