Terengganu MB justified his decision to purchase a fleet of Mercedes because of the exhorbitant maintenance cost of Perdana V6. Former MB Idris says the figure quoted was not quite accurate.
It is strange that no one under the previous Terengganu Government made any effort to find out why the maintenance cost was skyhigh. Was it justified? The MB or any of his officials could have summoned Proton’s MD to explain. No one did anything. One of the authorised agents boldly admits that he imposed a 25% additional charge because the Government took up to 3 months to settle the bills.
At the nationally televised TV debate, Anwar said, Government can easily find a billion ringgit by merely plugging leakages in Government spendings. This controversy proves Anwar’s assertion is true.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Government Had Never Once Failed The People
The people must have confidence in the government’s ability to overcome any form of crisis, including the price hikes in oil and food. He said the government had proven time and again that it had never once failed the people
Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
NST July 27,2008
It is true Government never failed the people once but many times.
During the 1998 financial crisis thousands of workers lost their jobs. Out of that at least 10,000 workers were thrown out without any notice and without any compensation for their long service. Government failed miserably to enforce the laws on payment of termination benefits.
Since then thousands more been cheated of their entitlement and the Government has done nothing whatsoever to put in place appropriate social safety nets to take care of workers affected by such measures by unscrupulous employers.
In May 2008, 100 workers were deprived of their jobs by Yong Kam Fook Plastics in Shah Alam. Many workers with 15 to 25 years left empty handed.
In July 2008 the Penang based Niko Electronics shut down and left 947 workers jobless. Again the employer absconded without any payment to the workers.
Mr Finance Minister these are only few examples of Government’s failure.
Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
NST July 27,2008
It is true Government never failed the people once but many times.
During the 1998 financial crisis thousands of workers lost their jobs. Out of that at least 10,000 workers were thrown out without any notice and without any compensation for their long service. Government failed miserably to enforce the laws on payment of termination benefits.
Since then thousands more been cheated of their entitlement and the Government has done nothing whatsoever to put in place appropriate social safety nets to take care of workers affected by such measures by unscrupulous employers.
In May 2008, 100 workers were deprived of their jobs by Yong Kam Fook Plastics in Shah Alam. Many workers with 15 to 25 years left empty handed.
In July 2008 the Penang based Niko Electronics shut down and left 947 workers jobless. Again the employer absconded without any payment to the workers.
Mr Finance Minister these are only few examples of Government’s failure.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Labour Outsourcing Promotes Corruption, Cheating And Discrimination
Two Ministries are involved in bringing in migrant workers into the country. The Ministry of Human Resources has repeatedly asserted that under the Trade Union Act migrant workers are allowed to join a union.
But the Immigration Department vested with powers to issue work permits under the Immigration Act stipulate a series of condition in the Work Permit – one of which says migrant workers are not allowed to join any association.
Three years ago a group of workers from Bangladesh who were not union members, sought and obtained a favourable ruling from the Industrial Court which stated that wages and working conditions stipulated under the Collective Agreement should be accorded to all migrant workers as well, irrespective of their union membership status. Employer appealed against the decision all the way to the High Court and Court of Appeal and lost.
Following that case Government changed the recruitment procedure. Government licensed 226 Migrant Labour suppliers who have brought in more than 500,000 workers and supply them to many employers.
So the revelation of Enforcement Director on Sunday 20 July, 2008 confirms that Government deliberately created the Labour supplier system so that employers who actually engage their services will be permitted to apply discriminatory practices with impunity
Recent arrest of senior officials of Immigration Department and others linked with them by the anti corruption Agency appears to show that the Labour outsourcing system is promoting corruption at the expense of migrant workers. So it is understandable that Immigration Officials would defend the system.
It is now obvious that employers, especially major corporations, have played an influential role in the introduction of the labour supplier system.
But the Immigration Department vested with powers to issue work permits under the Immigration Act stipulate a series of condition in the Work Permit – one of which says migrant workers are not allowed to join any association.
Three years ago a group of workers from Bangladesh who were not union members, sought and obtained a favourable ruling from the Industrial Court which stated that wages and working conditions stipulated under the Collective Agreement should be accorded to all migrant workers as well, irrespective of their union membership status. Employer appealed against the decision all the way to the High Court and Court of Appeal and lost.
Following that case Government changed the recruitment procedure. Government licensed 226 Migrant Labour suppliers who have brought in more than 500,000 workers and supply them to many employers.
So the revelation of Enforcement Director on Sunday 20 July, 2008 confirms that Government deliberately created the Labour supplier system so that employers who actually engage their services will be permitted to apply discriminatory practices with impunity
Recent arrest of senior officials of Immigration Department and others linked with them by the anti corruption Agency appears to show that the Labour outsourcing system is promoting corruption at the expense of migrant workers. So it is understandable that Immigration Officials would defend the system.
It is now obvious that employers, especially major corporations, have played an influential role in the introduction of the labour supplier system.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Petronas to pay govt RM 6b special dividend
For the first time, Petroliam Nasional Bhd will be paying a special dividend of RM 6 billion to the government, bringing total payments to RM 67.6 million this year”
NST – July 16th.
With RM 67 billion, Government can easily reduce fuel price and put a lid on inflation.
By using the special dividend of RM 6 billion government can reduce the fuel price by 50 cents per litre which will remove a huge burden imposed on working families and industries.
Increase in freight charges and electricity tariffs have increased production costs: Manufacturers have to pass on this cost to the consumers. Furthermore with the increase cost our products may not be able to compete in the global market.
PLUG LEAKAGES
As Anwar eloquently told the nation during the televised debate on 15th July 2008, Government should plug leakages of funds through corruption, over payments, enriching cronies and such other abusive practices.
IPP’s benefit at the expense of people
Anwar disclosed that as a result of Govt’s long term contracts biased in favour of IPP’s, TNB is compelled to buy power at exorbitant cost and hold a reserve of 40% more than our requirement. Anwar asserted nowhere in the world this happens.
He argues that by reducing the reserve to 20% TNB will be able to save RM 1 billion.
PM’s Anti inflation Committee
PM is guilty of creating inflation and having done that he is now talking about steps to control inflation and provide handouts to affected rural families. By now Malaysians know fully well that PM’s statements are nothing more than mere rhetoric.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Police roadblocks create massive jam
Police said the roadblocks will continue as they have been ‘successful’.
What do they mean? They were successful in creating massive jams? Creating breakdowns? Ensuring that most people did not report for work on time? Disrupting production and productivity and finally and most importantly disrupting the right to dissent.
15 July 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Visa Bribe Arrests
“ACA detains top immigration officer“ “Two Datuks also held in major swoop“
Putrajaya: A top officer of the Immigration Department has been arrested for allegedly accepting bribes to issue visas to foreign workers.” - NST 12 July 2008
Syabas ACA
I congratulate ACA for their courage and determination to end the corruption and abusive behaviour of those in power at the Immigration Department. This corrupt practices has been going on for more than ten years and the issuance of licences two years ago to more than 200 foreign worker suppliers, has worsened the level of corruption.
The new policy on foreign workers recruitment opened the doors wide to promote widespread corruption. As the ACA Chief rightly stated the rot goes all the way to the top not only threatening national security but also threatening job opportunities and decent livelihood for Malaysians.
Whilst the officers and their collecting agents pocketed millions of Ringgits as bribes, the Government was saddled with huge expenses to feed tens of thousands of so called illegal workers.
BAN Labour outsourcing system MTUC has repeatedly called upon the Government to ban the foreign workers outsourcing system, which has subjected workers brought into the country to extreme hardship.
MTUC has received hundreds of complaints from foreign workers on cheating, non payment of wages, poor working conditions and host of other issues. Labour suppliers issue ‘permits’ and collect RM8000 to RM10,000 which was later said to be forged documents. The poor foreign worker end up in detention camps despite paying out huge sums of money.
Therefore MTUC urge the Government to immediately withdraw the licences issued to the more than 200 foreign workers outsourcing companies – mostly just RM2.00 companies. This will be the most essential step to help ACA to end the scourge.
14 July 2008
Putrajaya: A top officer of the Immigration Department has been arrested for allegedly accepting bribes to issue visas to foreign workers.” - NST 12 July 2008
Syabas ACA
I congratulate ACA for their courage and determination to end the corruption and abusive behaviour of those in power at the Immigration Department. This corrupt practices has been going on for more than ten years and the issuance of licences two years ago to more than 200 foreign worker suppliers, has worsened the level of corruption.
The new policy on foreign workers recruitment opened the doors wide to promote widespread corruption. As the ACA Chief rightly stated the rot goes all the way to the top not only threatening national security but also threatening job opportunities and decent livelihood for Malaysians.
Whilst the officers and their collecting agents pocketed millions of Ringgits as bribes, the Government was saddled with huge expenses to feed tens of thousands of so called illegal workers.
BAN Labour outsourcing system MTUC has repeatedly called upon the Government to ban the foreign workers outsourcing system, which has subjected workers brought into the country to extreme hardship.
MTUC has received hundreds of complaints from foreign workers on cheating, non payment of wages, poor working conditions and host of other issues. Labour suppliers issue ‘permits’ and collect RM8000 to RM10,000 which was later said to be forged documents. The poor foreign worker end up in detention camps despite paying out huge sums of money.
Therefore MTUC urge the Government to immediately withdraw the licences issued to the more than 200 foreign workers outsourcing companies – mostly just RM2.00 companies. This will be the most essential step to help ACA to end the scourge.
14 July 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Allegation Against Anwar - Is Najib involved?
“There’s no conspiracy. Actually, this boy came to me to complain that he was sodomised by Anwar……I advised him to make his own decision”
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak - Star 4 July 08
Najib’s denial indeed confirms Anwar Ibrahim’s allegation of conspiracy at the top level in order to kill his political ambition. The top leaders are fully aware of the implications if Anwar succeeds. So, it is only natural that those who are in the ivory tower do not want to come down.
It is unbelievable that it was so easy for Saiful to meet up with the country’s number 2 man to discuss a personal issue. Even a major organization like MTUC could not even get a reply from the DPM to attend MTUC Labour day Celebration on 1st May 2008.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak - Star 4 July 08
Najib’s denial indeed confirms Anwar Ibrahim’s allegation of conspiracy at the top level in order to kill his political ambition. The top leaders are fully aware of the implications if Anwar succeeds. So, it is only natural that those who are in the ivory tower do not want to come down.
It is unbelievable that it was so easy for Saiful to meet up with the country’s number 2 man to discuss a personal issue. Even a major organization like MTUC could not even get a reply from the DPM to attend MTUC Labour day Celebration on 1st May 2008.
Mtuc Rejects Government’s Proposal To Reduce Workers Contribution To EPF
Government’s proposal to reduce employees rate of contribution to the KWSP from 11% to 9% in order to improve workers’ purchasing power, in our view will not be of much help.
If Government’s proposal is implemented, workers earning RM 1000 will have a paltry sum of RM 20.00 per month. Whereas transportation cost alone has gone up by 40%.
Secondly, workers savings in the KWSP for old age benefit remains low. Therefore, we do not think it is proper to further reduce their savings.
UNIONS TO DEMAND COLA TO ALLEVIATE HARDSHIP CAUSED BY 41% FUEL PRICE HIKE
Most employers in the private sector have ignored workers’ request for a cost of living allowance submitted two years ago. Following the hefty 41% fuel price hike announced on the 4th of June 2008, trade unions are insisting that employers and Government can no longer remain indifferent to the extreme hardship imposed on millions of workers in the country.
Government has also approved TNB’ request to raise electricity tariffs from 1st July. This will not only burden the individual consumers but all the industries in the country. To recoup their cost, industries will raise the price of their products.
Government expects the people to understand the necessity to raise fuel price based on global price increase. Similarly government should take definite steps to ensure that employers raise workers income level to keep up with the substantial increase in cost of living.
Trade unions are convinced that aside from making public statements, Government will not be able to control the price hike on food and other essential services.
Government should intervene and facilitate negotiations at national level to get private sector employers to pay a Cost of Living Allowance. MTUC has requested the Human Resource Minister to initiate discussion.
MTUC Labour Bulletin
June 2008
If Government’s proposal is implemented, workers earning RM 1000 will have a paltry sum of RM 20.00 per month. Whereas transportation cost alone has gone up by 40%.
Secondly, workers savings in the KWSP for old age benefit remains low. Therefore, we do not think it is proper to further reduce their savings.
UNIONS TO DEMAND COLA TO ALLEVIATE HARDSHIP CAUSED BY 41% FUEL PRICE HIKE
Most employers in the private sector have ignored workers’ request for a cost of living allowance submitted two years ago. Following the hefty 41% fuel price hike announced on the 4th of June 2008, trade unions are insisting that employers and Government can no longer remain indifferent to the extreme hardship imposed on millions of workers in the country.
Government has also approved TNB’ request to raise electricity tariffs from 1st July. This will not only burden the individual consumers but all the industries in the country. To recoup their cost, industries will raise the price of their products.
Government expects the people to understand the necessity to raise fuel price based on global price increase. Similarly government should take definite steps to ensure that employers raise workers income level to keep up with the substantial increase in cost of living.
Trade unions are convinced that aside from making public statements, Government will not be able to control the price hike on food and other essential services.
Government should intervene and facilitate negotiations at national level to get private sector employers to pay a Cost of Living Allowance. MTUC has requested the Human Resource Minister to initiate discussion.
MTUC Labour Bulletin
June 2008
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