Ten migrant workers have been detained in Perak, with some alleged to have been assaulted by state immigration officials, according to a support group.

NONE Jaringan Utara Migran dan Pelarian representative K Sudhagaran Stanley (left) said the workers were detained at a night market in Kamunting last Sunday.

He claimed that most of them hold valid documents such as passports, work permits and the 6P document.        

Among those detained are four women - one of whom is pregnant, while another has her six-month-old baby with her.

Stanley, who is based in Penang, also demanded a thorough investigation into the allegations of physical abuse.

“They were kicked in the head, slapped, punched and even told to lie down with their face in the dirt on the road," he claimed.

"They were later sent to the Langkap detention centre where the beatings continued at the hands of officials.

"These workers witnessed one of their friends, Dominigus, being beaten up badly. They saw two officials lifting him up and smashing him on a steel table, breaking the table and injuring him badly.”

Stanley said Dominigus has yet to be released and there is some suspicion that the department may try to cover up the incident by sending him back to Indonesia.

Those detained are being held on the ground that their papers require verification, said Stanley, who had gone to the camp last Sunday after receiving a tip-off.

"It is ridiculous to detain anyone who has not committed any crime. The government should be ashamed of such flagrant abuse and human rights violations.”

Malaysiakini was unable to get a response from the Perak immigration department.

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