Yesterday, 07:51 PM, updated 6h ago
QUOTE
NST Online-
KUALA LUMPUR: Indian national Safiudeen Pakkeer Mohamed will return home tomorrow after his passport, which was with his former employer, was handed back to him during a meeting with officials at the High Commission of India.
This development came a day after the New Straits Times reported that Safiudeen, 39, was expected to receive clarity on his situation following a scheduled appointment with the mission today.
The meeting earlier today was attended by humanitarian volunteer and Food2U founder Anthony Lian, Safiudeen, officers from the High Commission of India, Persatuan Pengusaha Restoran Muslim Malaysia (Presma), Persatuan Pengusaha Restoran India Malaysia (Prisma) and a representative of his former employer.
The employer gave Safiudeen his passport in the presence of diplomatic officials.
Lian, speaking to the New Straits Times after the meeting, confirmed Safiudeen's travel documents were safely returned, clearing the way for his repatriation.
"The High Commission has decided that it is in his best interest to go home.
"His employer returned the passport at the High Commission just now, settled any pending dues and has also volunteered to pay for his flight ticket back to India.
"With that, everything is settled. He is now under the care of the High Commission and will be taken care by them until his departure tomorrow. The fine for overstaying will also be paid by the former employer," he said.
Lian said the past week had been overwhelming for Safiudeen, whose plight sparked nationwide outrage after a video showed him being chased away and splashed with water while sleeping outside a bank in Taman Maluri.
"He is relieved. More than anything, he wants to go back to his family in Tamil Nadu. He has been through a lot. Both parties have come to an amicable solution and apologised to each other," Lian added.
Safiudeen had arrived in Malaysia in March last year to work as a cook at a restaurant in Sri Gombak. He later alleged that his employer withheld his passport from the day he landed and repeatedly delayed his wages, leaving him unable to support his family or seek new employment.
Unable to work for the past six months and without any identification, he ended up homeless and dependent on strangers for food until Lian intervened after the video of his mistreatment went viral.
Lian reiterated that the situation had been unnecessarily distorted online, saying the focus should remain on safeguarding vulnerable workers.
"I am just glad this episode is finally ending for him. Forgiveness and compassion speak louder than retribution.
"The greatest gift we can share with one another is kindness," he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Indian national Safiudeen Pakkeer Mohamed will return home tomorrow after his passport, which was with his former employer, was handed back to him during a meeting with officials at the High Commission of India.
This development came a day after the New Straits Times reported that Safiudeen, 39, was expected to receive clarity on his situation following a scheduled appointment with the mission today.
The meeting earlier today was attended by humanitarian volunteer and Food2U founder Anthony Lian, Safiudeen, officers from the High Commission of India, Persatuan Pengusaha Restoran Muslim Malaysia (Presma), Persatuan Pengusaha Restoran India Malaysia (Prisma) and a representative of his former employer.
The employer gave Safiudeen his passport in the presence of diplomatic officials.
Lian, speaking to the New Straits Times after the meeting, confirmed Safiudeen's travel documents were safely returned, clearing the way for his repatriation.
"The High Commission has decided that it is in his best interest to go home.
"His employer returned the passport at the High Commission just now, settled any pending dues and has also volunteered to pay for his flight ticket back to India.
"With that, everything is settled. He is now under the care of the High Commission and will be taken care by them until his departure tomorrow. The fine for overstaying will also be paid by the former employer," he said.
Lian said the past week had been overwhelming for Safiudeen, whose plight sparked nationwide outrage after a video showed him being chased away and splashed with water while sleeping outside a bank in Taman Maluri.
"He is relieved. More than anything, he wants to go back to his family in Tamil Nadu. He has been through a lot. Both parties have come to an amicable solution and apologised to each other," Lian added.
Safiudeen had arrived in Malaysia in March last year to work as a cook at a restaurant in Sri Gombak. He later alleged that his employer withheld his passport from the day he landed and repeatedly delayed his wages, leaving him unable to support his family or seek new employment.
Unable to work for the past six months and without any identification, he ended up homeless and dependent on strangers for food until Lian intervened after the video of his mistreatment went viral.
Lian reiterated that the situation had been unnecessarily distorted online, saying the focus should remain on safeguarding vulnerable workers.
"I am just glad this episode is finally ending for him. Forgiveness and compassion speak louder than retribution.
"The greatest gift we can share with one another is kindness," he said.
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