KOTA KINABALU: Three South Koreans were injured during a workers’ protest at a construction site at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP).
The incident, believed to have occurred around 1.15pm on Saturday, came about after a group of construction workers became upset for failing to receive their salaries.
It was caught on video and widely circulated on social media platforms.
According to the clips, the workers were asking the South Koreans to contact their boss to settle the matter.
One person is heard saying Hari Raya is around the corner and that they had worked hard to earn a living.
“This is our celebration. You don’t care, we work so hard and you guys keep pushing. We need to pay our rents,” he said.
The clips also showed several men shouting, slapping, punching and kicking the South Koreans, of whom one is heard saying “please” repeatedly.
Sabah Industrial Development Minister Phoong Jin Zhe said the three foreigners were most likely linked to sub-contractor Shinsung E&G, which is under Hyundai Engineering that is responsible for building a copper foil production factory for SK Nexilis.
“The incident occurred due to a delay in salary payment by Shinsung E&G,” he said, adding that the wages, which should have been made on April 5, had been postponed to April 18, due to some internal reasons.
“The workers are greatly disappointed and became aggressive. An unfortunate and unnecessary group assault occurred at the Shinsung E&G office,” he said.
Phoong, who is also the entrepreneurship chairman of KKIP Group, said the injured foreigners were sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.
He said the investor SK Nexilis and main contractor Hyundai Engineering had assured that the salaries would be paid today or tomorrow to the affected workers.
He said KKIP chief executive officer Lawrence G Kimkuan would meet with SK Nexilis and the related parties soon to resolve the matter amicably.
“I urge all parties involved to solve the dispute swiftly in a peaceful manner and ensure that everyone has a harmonious Raya.
“Violence will not lead to any solutions. Both sides should sit down and communicate to reach common grounds,” Phoong added.
Kota Kinabalu OCPD Asst Comm Zaidi Abdullah said a statement relating to the case would be issued later.
