‘May Day arrests shame Malaysia’

Memo to Subramaniam condemns police action against activists

VIDEO INSIDE

PUTRAJAYA: Activists have demanded that the government give May Day the respect it deserves instead of embarrassing Malaysia in the eyes of the world by arresting those who participate in rallies to mark the occasion.

The May 1 Committee, representing several NGOs and student associations, submitted a memorandum to Human Resource Minister Dr S Subramaniam this morning that condemned police action against demonstrators last May 1 and denounced the government for its “Cold War mentality”.

Several demonstrators shouted slogans and raised banners outside Subramaniam’s office before the memorandum was given to his press secretary, V Sivam.

“Long live the people” and “Do not obstruct Labour Day,” the group chanted.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S Arutchelvan, speaking for the May 1 Committee, told reporters: “May 1 is International Labour Day and has been sanctioned by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), of which Malaysia is a member. The Human Resource Minister is our representative there, but sadly he does not mirror the aspirations and visions of the ILO.

“May 1 is not for us to go on holiday, but to voice the concerns of workers. All around the world, people gather, but in Malaysia we’re being attacked by the police. That’s embarrassing.”

Arutchelvan and another prominent PSM member, Sungai Siput MP Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, were among more than 20 people arrested last May 1 during a rally in Kuala Lumpur.

About 300 people gathered at Dataran Merdeka to protest against continuing price hikes and to support the call for a minimum-wage law. Police cordoned off the area, ordered the group to disperse and then proceeded to make the arrests.

Arutchelvan reproached Subramaniam for saying, on May 2, that the previous day’s rally was unnecessary because the government was already looking into a proposed Minimum Wage Act.

“His statement is irresponsible, immature and shocking. How long must we wait for the act? What is wrong for the people to gather?”

The May 1 Committee has been organising annual May Day rallies since 1994. Its members say police have become more aggressive in recent years.

Irene Xavier, who heads a group called Friends of Women, said Subramaniam, in supporting the police action, was telling workers that they were not important to him or the government.

She said many women were working in deplorable conditions in Malaysia.

“We have women being hired as informal workers and paid pittance. These contract jobs make them even poorer and deeper in debt.”

Valerie Mohan, a Women’s Aid Organisation official, noted that the government last year tried to push through amendments to the Employment Act that would have reduced workers’ rights even further. The amendments were shelved after strong protests from several groups.