The authority of the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) director-general Asri Rahman to terminate a bilateral agreement signed in 2011 is being challenged.

The Protocol Amending the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 2011 encompassed the “Aku Janji”, or mandatory undertaking, both of which were being abolished in a letter dated Jan 21, 2020, signed by Asri, said Migrant Care country representative Alex Ong.

Ong pointed out that while the bilateral agreement commonly known as Protocol 2011 among labour activists was signed by Malaysia’s human resources minister and his Indonesian counterpart, Asri who was then JTKSM deputy director-general (Operations) issued the letter to terminate the labour rights instrument which was meant to protect foreign domestic workers.

“I am questioning how...