Police in Kuala Lumpur arrested twelve people earlier today [Wednesday] from among hundreds of plantation workers protesting about their rates of pay.
The workers are employed on Malaysia’s oil palm plantations, and were demanding an increase in their poor pay in the form of a monthly wage, and better housing. Plantation owners have long insisted however that it would be too expensive to pay workers at anything other than the traditional day rate.
Between 400 and 500 protestors marched 3km towards the Petronas Twin Towers, one of the world’s tallest buildings, and were ordered to disperse by police armed with water cannons.
The twelve protestors who were arrested face possible charges that include illegal procession and obstruction of police officers.
