KOTA KINABALU – The contractor at the centre of a workers’ riot at Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) paid RM3.8 million in overdue salaries to some 600 employees today.
Sabah industrial development and entrepreneurship minister and KKIP group chairman Phoong Jin Zhe confirmed the matter, saying all salaries have been paid accordingly at 6pm today.
This is following a riot involving a group of construction workers from Shinsung E&G who claimed to have not been paid wages, in an incident that left one company official injured.
It was learned that the incident took place at the Shinsung E&G office in KKIP.
The case caught public attention after videos of the incident went viral on social media.
Kota Kinabalu district police chief Mohd Zaidi Abdullah, in a statement today, said that the victim who was assaulted in the incident is a 53-year-old Korean man, who lodged a police report yesterday.
The victim suffered bruises and swelling in several parts of his body, and is now getting treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I here.
“We have arrested two suspects under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting and are still trying to locate another two suspects. The four suspects are believed to have initiated the riot,” he said.
Zaidi advised the public to settle disagreements via existing legal channels, and not to resort to violence, which risks them getting punished by the law.
“We also hope the public will stop spreading speculations about the incident that could disturb public order,” he added.
Earlier today, Deputy Human Resources Minister Mustapha Sakmud said he has advised Shinsung E&G to settle the arrears on the employees’ wages in accordance with the stipulated contract of service, and as per the Sabah Labour Ordinance.
He said the unpaid wages were for March, and that the contractor has agreed to make payment after a meeting with the Sabah Labour Department on Sunday.
According to Mustapha, the agreement between the contractor and the workers was that salaries would be paid on the first week of every month.
“Following the incident, the Sabah Labour Department director and Manggatal police chief held a discussion with representatives from both sides…the outcome is that the employer will pay the salaries on April 17 and 18.
“Sabah Labour Department officers will be present at the construction site to observe the payment process and ensure that everything goes well.
“The officers will also be ready in the event of any other complaints from the workers,” he said. – The Vibes, April 17, 2023
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