On an evening in August 2005, while some 200 estate workers were gathering for a Hindu festival at the small temple, one man had only one thing on his mind - escape.

It was the best opportunity for P Ramudu and his heavily pregnant wife A Kalaivany to make a dash for freedom, to escape the clutches of their 'owner' who has 'forced' them to work on the plantation.

The plan was simple. While everyone, including their 'owner-cum-employer', was busy praying, the young couple would sneak out on a walk towards a better life.

They knew it would not be easy. Ramudu, 19, and Kalaivany - only 17 and seven months pregnant - put their belongings in a duffel bag and started down the sole unlit route to the main road about 12km away.

Stopping at times to give Kalaivany a rest, they walked for about an hour. On the main road, they boarded a bus and found their way to Triang, Pahang.

This is not fiction and this is not just the tale of one family - this is the hidden face of Malaysia.

Even 50 years after Merdeka, there are bonded labourers who are unable to access basic rights.

Family of slaves

Kalaivany's parents, M Avadiar and V Rosamah, both 42, have been bonded labourers since 1992.

Since 1999, they have been contracted to one owner to work on oil palm plantations in Kampung Serampang Indah, near Bahau in Negri Sembilan. Their seven children are part of the 'package deal'.

Ramudu's mother and two sisters are also bonded to the owner.

A year after their escape, Ramudu and his wife went back to the plantation last August - with help from some good Samaritans - to bring out the entire Avadiar family. Ramudu's own family chose to remain. (story to come in Part 3)

It was far from easy but they are all free now. Malaysiakini traced them to a Felda plantation in Triang, Pahang - about 60km from their previous place and less than 200km from Kuala Lumpur.

"Life was hell there. So much of hardship and so little joy," said the weatherbeaten Avadiar.

"In the eight years I was there with that owner, I was only let out twice...once for my father's funeral and another time, for my father-in-law's funeral."

Rosamah said life as a bonded labourer meant working at all hours, being a servant to the owner at all times and quietly accepting punishments for the simplest of mistakes.

"Being beaten up is very common. I have been beaten for being sick. Sometimes, the owner will beat all of us for a mistake done by one," said Rosamah, her teeth and tongue stained red from years of chewing betel.

Avadiar said the owner always carried a thick rotan in his car. He also has a team of 'watchers' who hand out beatings as well.

"They kept a close watch on us. They monitored all our moves and what we say," said Avadiar.

"If we make plans to escape, they will find out and set a trap to catch us and then beat us for trying to escape. I was caught and beaten once for trying to escape."

His son-in-law Ramudu too was a regular victim.

Unschooled children

The Avadiars said their children were not sent to school and were forced to work. None of the children are literate in the national language. Two do not have a birth certificate.

One daughter is an unwed mother of two - both the result of sexual assault, she claimed. One child has been given up for adoption while she is taking care of her second son, who has just turned one.

Ramudu and Kalaivany now have a son, who turned one last month.

In all, Avadiar has 12 mouths to feed, but he says life is now much rosier.

"Previously my wife and I and three of our children had to work on the plantation for long hours, At the end of the month, we would receive about RM200," he said.

About eight other families are also bonded to the owner, who provides them with housing - with electricity, water and even a television and a VCD player - but deducts payment for these from their salaries.

Household provisions are supplied from the sole shop on the plantation, also paid out of salary deductions.

"He also makes a deduction for what we 'owe' him, arising from the amount he paid to buy us," said Avadiar.

Avadiar said he doesn't know how the debt was accumulated in the first place.

"I was just told to come and work with this man by my previous employer who had a plantation in Bentong, Pahang.

"When we came here, we found everything was different. Here, we were forced to do everything and we had no freedom to go where we want or to do what we want."

New beginning

Avadiar said most of the bonded labourers remaining on the plantation have no choice but to continue working for the owner.

The family has lodged several reports against the owner over their situation. When contacted, an official of the Ayer Hitam police station in Negri Sembilan said the matter was under investigation.

The owner is also facing a court case later this month for allegedly assaulting Avadiar and some of his family members. However, some family members have also been charged with allegedly assaulting the owner and his workers while escaping.

Now, Avadiar and his son work for a Felda settler in new surroundings and are paid about RM1,200 for about four hours of work daily.

They live in a big kampung house which has a broken settee, a battered fridge and an old television - but there is Astro!

In the kitchen, there are only about four plates and three bowls, but the family is happy that they are free.

"Next, let's see if my children want to continue their studies. And more importantly we will have to get birth certificates for my children and two grandchildren," said Avadiar.

As for Ramudu and his young wife, they are thinking of how to provide a better future for their son Narvin.

At least the child stands a better chance of seeing the pride of the nation - Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, something that his parents, uncles and aunties only knew existed when they saw it on television.


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10-minute video clip

Tomorrow: Owner's side of the story