Homeless Indian Worker Faces Public Humiliation in Malaysia
A 39-year-old Indian man from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, became the victim of brutal public humiliation in Malaysia's capital city Kuala Lumpur. Safiudeen Pakkeer Mohamed, who had been living homeless and jobless, was kicked and had water splashed on him while sleeping on the streets outside a bank.
The disturbing incident was captured on video and quickly went viral across social media platforms, sparking widespread condemnation of the security guards' actions at Taman Maluri.
Corporate Response and Accountability
Following the massive online backlash, AmBank Group issued an official statement addressing the unfortunate incident. The banking institution clarified that the individuals involved in the viral video were not direct employees of their organization.
In their statement, the bank emphasized that "No individuals deserve to be treated in that manner" while confirming that the safety of everyone around their premises remains their top priority. They revealed that the security guard was actually employed by an external security service provider working at the branch.
The statement further noted that the man in the video was a cobbler who expressed frustration with Safiudeen, though the bank maintained expectations of highest professional conduct from all personnel representing them, including vendors and partners.
The Tragic Backstory of Exploitation
Safiudeen Pakkeer's journey to Malaysia began a year ago when he arrived with dreams of better employment opportunities and higher earnings to support his family of four back in India. His family includes his wife and two children aged 11 and 8.
According to Free Malaysia Today reports, the aspiring migrant worker had paid RM3,500 (approximately ₹75,718) for a work permit and an additional RM1,200 (about ₹25,960) for healthcare to his employer before beginning his new life in Southeast Asia.
His dream job as a cook in a restaurant at Taman Sri Gombak offered modest wages, but the situation deteriorated when his employer started withholding his salary for months. The exploitation deepened when Safiudeen discovered he could neither quit nor seek alternative employment because his passport was held by his employer.
"When I arrived at KLIA, the restaurant boss took my passport and I never saw it again," Safiudeen told FMT, highlighting the precarious position of many migrant workers.
Descent into Homelessness and Hope
The final setback came in March this year when his employer significantly deducted his salary, citing renewal costs for his work permit. This forced Safiudeen to stop working six months ago, leaving him depressed, hungry, broke, and ultimately homeless.
With no means to return to India and no passport to legitimize his search for work, he had no alternative but to sleep on five-footways. "I had no food, no roof over my head. Some told me that since I still had hands and legs, I therefore could find work. But without a passport, no one wanted to hire me," he recalled of his desperate situation.
Amid the darkness emerged a ray of hope when Malaysian native Tony Lian, popularly known as "Uncle Tony" who operates two small shelters for homeless people, decided to help Safiudeen after seeing the viral videos. He has offered assistance in paying off debts and retrieving the crucial passport that could restore Safiudeen's freedom and dignity.
