Malaysia suspends maid agencies, blacklists employers

MALAYSIA: Malaysia has suspended the licenses of 20 maid agencies and blacklisted 85 employers after complaints of irregularities and unpaid wages, a government official said Friday.

Pressure on maid agencies and employers has increased after a highly publicized escape by an Indonesian maid last weekend.

The woman, Ceriyati Dapin, climbed from the 15th-floor apartment of her allegedly abusive employer with a makeshift rope. On the parapet of the 12th floor she froze in fear, and firefighters rescued her.

The maid agency, which sent Dapin, 33, to the employer, has lost its license, a spokesman of the Home Affairs Ministry said. He declined to be named because he is not authorized to make public statements.

The agency lost its license not because of the alleged abuse by the employer, The Star and the New Straits Times dailies said.

Kuala Lumpur, Friday, AP