And that is why we need to abolish the Official Secrets Act and replace it with the Freedom of Information Act -- so that corruption will no longer be protected with the RAHSIA stamp.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Today I want to refer to the two news items below.
This is what I have been trying to say all this while. We need a higher minimum wage and we need a Freedom of Information Act.
Currently, the government conveniently stamps so-called ‘sensitive’ documents with RAHSIA. This means if you are in possession of such documents you will be arrested and will be sent to jail.
Okay, I can understand keeping these documents in question a secret if it involves matters of defence or national security. But when they concern what the army is paying to buy fish, chicken and Maggi Mee, there is nothing life threatening in revealing this information.
Most times, however, the government wants this information kept confidential because the army is paying many times more the cost for these food items compared to what you can buy the same on the open market.
In other words, this information is kept confidential because the government wants to hide the fact that there is corruption involved in the purchase of army rations and that the taxpayers are being screwed for tons of money.
That is why non-sensitive information that does not threaten our defence or national security is kept from public eyes with the RAHSIA stamp on the documents and anyone found in possession of these documents will be sent to jail. And that is why we need to abolish the Official Secrets Act and replace it with the Freedom of Information Act -- so that corruption will no longer be protected with the RAHSIA stamp.
The next item is the minimum wage for all workers. In 1999, we asked the government to set the minimum wage at RM1,300-RM1,500 per month. Now, we are asking that this minimum wage be around RM1,800-RM2,000.
Hindraf/Human Rights Party (HRP) yesterday asked for this minimum wage to be RM1,300, the figure we quoted 11 years ago. Anyway, RM1,300, RM1,500, RM1,800 or whatever is not the issue. The issue is we must have a minimum wage and it should not be a mere few hundred Ringgit.
I would say Hindraf/HRP and I are of the same mind on this issue. What we may slightly disagree upon would be their statement:…...we call upon the UMNO led One Malaysian government to pass legislation to set a minimum wage of RM 1,300.00 per month for all workers in particular the Indian workers………
Why do we need to stress ‘in particular the Indian workers’? The statement could have ended at ‘a minimum wage of RM 1,300.00 per month for all workers’. As long as you are a worker -- never mind Indian, Chinese, Malay, Javanese, Bajau, Iban, Penan, Dayak, Melanau, Orang Asli, etc. -- then they should be given a minimum wage and this minimum wage should be RM1,300 per month.
No, I do not wish to make an issue out of this. I am not whacking Hindraf/HRP and saying that they are chauvinist. What I want to stress here is that these little things like not stopping at ‘a minimum wage of RM 1,300.00 per month for all workers’ and adding ‘in particular the Indian workers’ dilutes the struggle.
It is a good appeal. I too have been saying the same thing for more than ten years, long before Hindraf or HRP were born. But I want this for all Malaysians. I do not say ‘Malays in particular’ -- or anyone in particular for that matter.
Actually, I understand what Hindraf/HRP are struggling for. And I support their struggle wholeheartedly. But can we make this a struggle for all Malaysians and not for just one particular race?
That is what I have been trying to get across to our Indian comrades. Poverty does not recognise race. Therefore, the fight to eradicate poverty should not be about race.
*************************************************
Minimum wage of RM 1,300.00 per month in all sectors and for all including the Indians
Yesterday marked Labour Day in recognition of the sacrifices and contribution of especially the Indian labour in Malaysia who in those days literally worked with their bare hands to build the Railways, roads, bridges, work in interior rubber estates etc. Indian labour has been and is crucial in what Malaysia has become today, the wealthy prosperous country with the world’s tallest twin towers. This is the reason why UMNO in most of Malaysia’s 53 year history has made an Indian the labour minister to perform the Indian Mandore duties to UMNO . The present day labour minister is Dr.Subramaniam. Similarly in all of the state Exco positions in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Johor and N.Sembilan.
The labour portfolio is and has always been held by an Indian including by the present day PKR, DAP and PAS state governments in Kedah, Penang Selangor and earlier in Perak (as if they do not qualify to hold other senior Exco positions).
We helped build this city. And we helped build Malaysia.
But today after 53 years of independence, especially the Indians are yet to be given a minimum wage.
In point 16 of our 18-point demands to Prime Minister Badawi dated 12/7/2007 we had demanded a basic monthly salary of RM 1,000.00 per month.
With a RM 100.00 monthly increment per year we today after 3 years demand in 2010 RM 1,300.00 per month.
But the Labour Minister is indicating (being selective) proposing setting a minimum wage for targeted sectors under the New Economic Model (NEM) electronics, textiles, gloves and furniture industries (NST 2/5/2010 at page 8)
Why? Because the overwhelming majority of the beneficiaries thereto would be the Malay Muslims?
And this Indian mandore Labour Minister under UMNOs’ directions seems to be permanently ‘studying‘ the minimum wage proposal even after 53 years of independence (The Star 2/5/2010 at page N5).
We have recorded plantation workers in Cameron Highlands earning RM 13.00 per day (approximately RM 260.00 per month) living in near slave like living conditions. Even lower than the RM18.00 per day earned by the Bangladeshi workers.
Indian dish washers (as per our February video) earn as low as RM 350.00 per month.
After about a 50 year struggle the plantation workers salary has been set at RM 350.00 per month in 2006 or so.This “insulting”monthly salary is modern day slavery.
On this Labour Day 2010 we call upon the UMNO led One Malaysian government to pass legislation to set a minimum wage of RM 1,300.00 per month for all workers in particular the Indian workers with effect from 1/5/2010. And with all arrears of wages to be paid backdated and from this date onwards.
P.Uthayakumar
HINDRAF/HRP
*************************************************
Selangor to move motion on Freedom of Information Act
(Free Malaysia Today) -- In support of press freedom, the Selangor government will re-categorise several state documents which are now under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
In conjunction with the world press freedom day today, Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said the process of reclassification of certain documents had already begun as provided for under the “authority of the Menteri Besar”.
This will enable the rakyat to access actual information on issues handled by the state government.
“The state government will move a motion for the Freedom of Information Act in support of media freedom.
“Up till now some documents classified under the OSA have been re-categorised using the powers allocated to the Menteri Besar to ensure the rakyat have access to actual information on several issues handled by the Selangor government,” he said in a statement.
May 3, is celebrated worldwide as international press freedom day.
International organisation, Reporters Without Borders, has in their recent report noted that press freedom in Malaysia had deteriorated to 39.50 as compared to 44.25 previously. (0.00 points is ranked the best and 100 worst). Malaysia is two points ahead of Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
“Here in Malaysia, we are aware of the extreme grip that the federal government has on the media.. the latest case being NTV7 producer Joshua Chong who was forced to resign.
“We also know that there are some media who are being pressured and journalists who have been detained without trial.
‘Worse still are documents relating to corruption which have been stamped Official Secrets and as such cannot be processed, “ he said.
Khalid added that such practices can only be changed through political will which the state government under the Pakatan rule will ensure.
“The Selangor government believes that a free media will be able to aid the government to improve and support its move towards a fair, transparent and responsible administration and management of the state,” Khalid said
No comments:
Post a Comment