KUCHING: Marlia, a 32-year-old woman from Sambas, West Kalimantan, carries a burden that only the strongest souls can bear.
Her story spanning nearly two decades in Bintulu, is a testament to endurance, exploitation and an unyielding longing for home.
The third born among four siblings, comes from a Muslim family in the village of Sejangkung in Sambas.
Back in 2004, Marlia was just a wide-eyed 13-year-old when she left her family and embarked on a fateful journey to Malaysia through an agent.
She was handed over to a local agent in Sarikei and was moved to work at a coffee shop in Bintulu before she was moved again to work as a housemaid at the age of 15 in the same district.
After about 17 years as a housemaid, Marlia managed to escape from her employer in May this year as she could not stand not being paid her wages and the longing to return to her family.
The Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching then rescued her from Bintulu and brought her to a temporary shelter in Kuching.
New Sarawak Tribune managed to sit down for an exclusive interview with the Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono and Marlia at the Consulate’s residence on Monday (June 19).
Entry into Sarawak
Marlia recalled the year where she left her family to go to Sarawak for a job at a restaurant, which was promised by an agent.
“It was through an agent who claimed to have the permits but then, it seemed like the agent may have cheated me.
“At the time, I was still young and did not know a thing, I just followed them as I was introduced to the agent by a girl from my village. Whether is it through the legal or illegal way, that I am not certain,” she said.
Labour years
Initially employed at a coffee shop in Bintulu, Marlia’s path quickly shifted when she was moved by the agent to work as a housemaid with her employer’s in-laws.
Little did she know that this seemingly innocent twist of fate would change her life.
“I helped raise my employer’s first child, who was only four-years-old at the time. When my employer left, I chose to follow her to take care of her daughter who is in need of care and support.
“As years passed, I took care of the employer’s two new children from her second marriage,” she said.
Marlia’s love for these children was profound as they had been her constant companions from their earliest moments in this world.
Daily routine and meals
From the early hours of the morning until late into the night, Marlia’s life revolved around an arduous routine. Each day began at 4am, when she would wake up to start her duties as a housemaid.
Preparing breakfast and ensuring the children were ready for school were the first tasks on her list. Once they had left for school, Marlia’s true work began.
Cleaning the house, washing clothes, and tidying up became her daily companions.
With meticulous care, she would ensure that every corner of the house was spotless. Then, it was time to move to the kitchen once again, where she would prepare lunch for the family.
As the afternoon unfolded, Marlia’s focus shifted to more house work, ironing clothes and preparing dinner.
Evenings arrived quickly and Marlia’s duties continued unabated. Washing the dishes and cleaning the house once more were tasks she approached with unwavering dedication.
At 11pm, Marlia would finally retire, preparing herself for another demanding day that awaited her.
Yet, amid the physical toll of her responsibilities, Marlia carried an additional burden. As a devout Muslim, she found herself trapped in a conundrum of dietary restrictions.
Forced to eat whatever the employer and her family consumed, Marlia had no choice but to consume non-halal food.
The spiritual and cultural significance of her dietary requirements clashed with the reality of her circumstances, further highlighting the challenges she faced.
A visible symbol of her status within the household was the strict protocol observed during mealtimes.
While the family gathered around the table, Marlia was relegated to a position behind them. Only after the family had finished their meal, would Marlia have the opportunity to partake in the remnants — the leftovers were her sustenance.
In these moments, Marlia’s resilience shone through. Despite the inequality and isolation she experienced, her commitment to her responsibilities and her unwavering dedication to her work remained unbroken.
Her faith and inner strength sustained her, allowing her to endure and persevere in the face of adversity.
“During the Ramadan month, I did not fast and could not perform my prayers. When I heard the Azan from a mosque nearby, I became sad and cried alone because I missed it,” she said, recalling that she was scared to tell her employer about her Muslim faith.
Trouble with employer
On being asked whether she had been abused throughout the years, Marlia said she was never abused and only got scolding from her employer.
“I was not restricted from going anywhere. It’s just that they (my employer) scared me because I did not have any passport or documents.
“They will also tell me – Where do you want to go out? Your parents are gone already, no need to look (for them) anymore.
“I was sad to hear that my parents had passed away and I couldn’t do anything at the time,” she said.
Profound injustice and escape
She was dedicated to her work but Marlia experienced a profound injustice.
Despite promises made by her employer, she was never paid her salary — not a single cent for 17 years of labour.
“I was not paid my salary for my years of labour and at the time, my employer promised me a salary of RM200 per month,” she said.
In May this year, I escaped from my employer with the help and kindness of the employer’s first child, who is now 21-years-old.
“She had recently returned from Taiwan and I told her that I could not take it anymore in this house.
“I asked for her help to find a place where I can sleep,” Marlia said tearfully.
Touched by Marlia’s plight, the employer’s first child devised a plan for her liberation. Assuring Marlia that her parents would be absent from the house, she orchestrated Marlia’s departure.
“She told me beforehand that “At 8pm, you can go out from the house and someone will pick you up.”
Indeed, a friend of Marlia’s employer appeared as her saviour, whisking her away to a safe haven where she has sought refuge for the past month.
The friend connected Marlia to the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching, holding up a beacon of hope for her.
The protection team from the Consulate led by Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia, Raden Sigit Witjaksono, on June 12, managed to rescue Marlia and brought her to a temporary shelter in Kuching.
Marlia’s escape, however, was met with accusations and deceit.
“We went to lodge a police report to ask for my salary from my employer. But then, she instead accused me of theft and abusing her children,” she said.
Marlia maintains her innocence, her voice resolute as she insists that her commitment was marked by love, not harm.
Parents-daughter virtual reunite
When Marlia was told by her employer that her parents had passed away, she tragically believed the words fabricated by her employer.
Nights of solitude and tears, yearning for assistance and the embrace of familial love, had consumed her.
In an unexpected twist of fate, the Consulate managed to bridge the distance and reunite Marlia with her parents through a tearful video call.
The realisation that her parents were alive and well overwhelmed her, soothing her wounded spirit and rekindling the flame of hope that had flickered so precariously.
Marlia’s parents, Wirdan, 73, and Sainah, 59, yearn for their daughter’s return, their hearts heavy with the weight of 19 years of separation.
Despite their attempts to find Marlia, they were kept apart by circumstances beyond their control.
“Do not worry and wait for me to come home,” she sobbed, while talking to her parents through the phone.
Her parents also expressed their desire for their daughter’s swift return and for her unpaid salary to be rightfully compensated.
In the midst of Marlia’s suffering, her love for her mother and the flavours of home remain unwavering.
She reminisces about her mother’s Kue Nagasari, an Indonesian delicacy made from rice flour and bananas.
The taste of home is a bittersweet reminder of the life she yearns to reclaim, a life stolen from her by unscrupulous hands.
