the blogging syed shahir

Dipetik dari Media Indonesia Online, 4 Disember 2005

KUALA LUMPUR–MIOL: Presiden Kongres Serikat Pekerja Malaysia (MTUC) Syed Shahir menyatakan siap memberikan advokasi dan perlindungan kerja kepada tenaga kerja Indonesia (TKI) asalkan mereka mau masuk serikat pekerja (SP) Malaysia.

“Kami siap membantu asalkan TKI itu mau menjadi anggota serikat pekerja di Malaysia. Namun selama ini, TKI cenderung menghindari atau takut masuk serikat pekerja di Malaysia,” kata Syed Shahir, usai mengikuti training ‘Globalization Workers Right & Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia Pacifik’ yang diselenggarakan ILO (International Labor Organization), di Kuala Lumpur, Minggu.

Menurut Shahir, TKI termasuk pekerja migran yang paling penakut untuk masuk menjadi anggota SP di Malaysia. “Pekerja migran yang paling berani dan banyak masuk serikat pekerja di Malaysia adalah asal Bangladesh, Filipina, Srilanka baru kemudian Indonesia. Jika ditanya mau masuk SP, TKI selalu bilang datang ke Malaysia hanya untuk bekerja atau cari makan. Bahkan usai ditanya, malah lari kabur,” tambah dia.

“Tapi ada TKI yang masuk menjadi anggota SP Malaysia, tapi tidak begitu banyak dibandingkan asal Bangladesh, Filipina, dan Srilanka. Kesadarannya masih lemah atau ketakutannya lebih besar,” kata orang nomor satu di konfederasi serikat pekerja Malaysia itu.

Menurut dia, sejak kepemimpinannya di Malaysia Trade Union Congress (MTUC) selama 11 bulan terakhir ini, sikap aktivis serikat pekerja sudah berubah. Pekerja migran merupakan pekerja yang membutuhkan hak-hak untuk masuk menjadi anggota serikat pekerja, berhak mendapatkan gaji sesuai standar minimum, dan berhak mendapatkan perlindungan pekerjaan.

“Kami tidak mau menerapkan standar ganda. Pekerja migran dari mana saja merupakan seorang pekerja yang berhak mendapatkan perlindungan seperti yang direkomendasikan ILO,” tegas Syed Shahir, orang kepercayaan mantan Deputi PM Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim di tubuh konfederasi serikat pekerja Malaysia.

Sementara itu, Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainudin, aktivis pekerja pada Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Perkayuan Semenanjung Malaysia, mengemukakan bahwa TKI dan buruh migran dari negara manapun yang bekerja di Malaysia mendapatkan perlakukan diskriminatif.

“Perjanjian kontrak kerja bagi para tenaga kerja Indonesia sangat diskriminatif dan menunjukkan terjadi perdagangan manusia. Dalam kontrak kerjanya jelas tertulis bahwa TKI dan buruh migran lainnya dilarang menikah dengan wanita Malaysia, tidak boleh ikut aktivitas politik dan serikat pekerja di Malaysia,” kata Khairul dalam laporannya pada training ILO, ‘Globalization, Worker’s Right dan Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia Pacifik’ di Kuala Lumpur.

Padahal, menurut dia, UU Serikat Pekerja Malaysia membolehkan pekerja migran dari negara manapun, termasuk TKI, untuk masuk ke dalam serikat pekerja di Malaysia. “Ini adalah standar dasar dan universal di seluruh dunia. Ini adalah hak bagi seorang pekerja,” tambah dia.

Gerakan bersama

Presiden MTUC Syed Shahir mengatakan untuk meningkatkan perlindungan kerja dan peningkatan kesejahteraan pekerja migran, khususnya TKI, diperlukan gerakan bersama, baik itu antar-pemerintah, antar-pengusaha dan antar-para pengurus konfederasi serikat pekerja.

“Kehadiran Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ke Malaysia pada pertemuan ASEAN minggu depan di Kuala Lumpur seharusnya digunakan untuk membicarakan masalah TKI,” usul Syed.

Menteri Tenaga Kerja Indonesia dan Malaysia juga harus segera berunding soal panduan (guidelines) TKI yang isinya soal pengaturan standar gaji minimum, hak pekerja, dan juga perlindungan tenaga kerja Indonesia. Dalam perundingan itu harus mengikutsertakan para pengusaha, terutama pengusaha pemasok TKI, dan para pengurus konfederasi SP.

“Perundingan ini sangat berat. Pemerintah Malaysia masih enggan, begitu juga dengan para pengusaha Malaysia. Banyak perusahaan pengerah tenaga kerja milik pejabat pemerintah Malaysia. Keuntungan mereka akan berkurang. Tapi dunia sudah berubah. Tidak boleh lagi ada perdagangan manusia. Ini memang berat. Kita tak boleh menyerah dan terus berusaha,” katanya.

Para pengurus SP di Indonesia harus terus mendorong menteri tenaga kerja untuk berunding soal panduan mengenai TKI. DPR RI juga harus mendorong hal itu. “Kami juga akan mendorong pemerintah Malaysia agar segera membuat guideline soal pekerja migran,” katanya.

“Ketika bertemu dengan beberapa anggota parlemen Indonesia, bertemu dengan Menteri Tenaga Kerja Indonesia Fahmi Idris, dan beberapa pengurus serikat pekerja Indonesia sudah saya kemukakan perlunya gerakan bersama untuk melindungi TKI di Malaysia,” katanya.

Ketua Bahagian keADILan Kelana Jaya, Syed Shahir Mohamud akan merasmikan Kejohanan Bowling Angkatan Muda Selangor yang akan diadakan pada 17 Disember akan datang.

Ahli Majlis Pimpinan Tertinggi, keADILan, Dr Badrulamin Baharom dan Ketua Angkatan Muda Selangor, Fauzi Yusoff akan menyampaikan hadiah kepada para pemenang.

Pasukan yang terbuka kepada penyertaan lelaki dan wanita itu menawarkan hadiah pertama berupa wang tunai berjumlah RM400 beserta dengan piala.

Tempat kedua dan ketiga akan masing-masing menerima RM300 dan RM200 beserta medal.

Setiap pasukan juga akan menerima cenderamata.

Kejohanan Kedua kali ini dianjurkan oleh Angkatan Muda Kelana Jaya dan akan diadakan di Pusat Bowling The Summit, USJ pada 9 pagi.

Setakat ini sebanyak 18 pasukan telah menghantar penyertaan mereka dan masih lagi membuka penyertaan. Kejohanan tersebut adalah juga terbuka kepada bukan ahli keADILan.

Kepada mereka yang berminat, sila hubungi Halimey Abu Bakar (019-2399809)

Beh Lih Yi (Malaysiakini)
Dec 14, 05 5:56pm

Even before they could unfurl their banners, the police swooped in and arrested six people who attempted to stage a protest close to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre where the 11th Asean Summit is being held.

The would-be protest, initiated by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members, had aimed to highlight the regional grouping¡œs failure to address certain crucial issues.

At about 11am, as the protestors were gearing up to send their message from the nearby KLCC park, when some 30 police personnel moved in and arrested them.

Within 10 minutes, it was all over.

During the commotion, the 60 pigeons brought to the park by the protestors to be set free during the event went missing. The pigeons, which were in two cages, could not be found after the melee with the police.

According to a party worker, he saw uniformed police officers packing the pigeons away.

Those arrested were PKR information chief Tian Chua, party workers Jasmine Ng (photo, right) and Ginie Lim, activist Fiqtriey al-Hakim and Burmese nationals Kolatt Aung Lwin and Jadoi.

The two Burmese were arrested inside the KLCC shopping complex while the others were nabbed outside.

The organisers had earlier predicted a turnout of about 100 people.

The six were then taken to the Pudu police station and released at 5pm on police bail. They are required to report at the same police station on Dec 22.

However, the whereabouts of the ‘detained’ pigeons is unknown.

Not an illegal gathering

Chua, when met after his release, said he sustained injuries on his face and body as a policeman had allegedly assaulted him on the police truck.

PKR Youth vice-chief Syamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, who was also present, questioned the basis of the arrest and said the entire process was procedurally flawed.

¡§It cannot be considered an illegal gathering because we did not even start,¡¨ added the lawyer-cum-politician.

PAS secretary-general Kamarudin Jaffar who arrived later condemned the move as contradictory to the stand of Asean leaders who were supposed to be fighting for the people.

“The highhandedness of the police was uncalled for especially when we are trying to teach Burma a lesson (on democracy), we are not walking the talk either,¨ he said.

He was accompanied by PAS leaders Salahuddin Ayub and Dr Syed Azman Syed Nawawi.

Fallen flat

In a statement later, human rights watchdog Suaram also criticised the arrests.

“Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights guaranteed by the Federal Constitution and enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,¨ it said.

The organiser had also distributed a statement which described the Asean summit as having fallen flat on its face.

“Despite its rhetoric of an integrated regional identity, it has evidently failed to address major unsettling issues confronting the region,¨ read the statement endorsed by 12 groups.

It said that Asean has woefully failed to deal with the recurring haze, the military dictatorship in Burma, the southern Thailand insurgency, and the plight of foreign workers and refugees.

Among those which endorsed the statement, were PKR, PAS, labour rights movement Tenaganita, Labour Resource Centre, Women Development Collective and the Asean Trade Union Congress.

 

Penahanan Tian Chua ala binatang?

Oleh WAN NORDIN WAN YAACOB

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Dis (Hrkh) - Belumpun reda isu salahlaku polis ke atas rakyat Malaysia, hari ini polis sekali lagi melakukan tindakan ganas yang didakwa ala binatang ke atas Ketua Penerangan Parti KeADILan Rakyat (PKR), Chua Tian Chan di hadapan Menara Berkembar Petronas (KLCC) kira-kira jam 11.00 pagi tadi.
Menurut Naib Ketua Pemuda Angkatan Muda KeADILan (AMK), Shamsul Iskandar Mat Akin, tindakan itu dilakukan sebelum sempat Tian Chua dan lima lagi aktivis yang ditahan memulakan perhimpunan aman.

Perhimpunan aman anjuran pelbagai parti politik itu diadakan bagi menyuarakan isu pelarian, migrasi dan demokrasi Myanmar kepada pemimpin negara Asean.

Begitupun, sebelum sempat ianya dimulakan polis bertindak menahanan Tian Chua dan beberapa aktivis yang sedang mula berkumpul di hadapan KLCC.

Lima yang lain ialah, aktivis Suara Rakyat Malaysia, Ginnie Lim, Jasmine Ng, Fiqtriey Al-Hakimi, Kolatt dan Jadoi (Warga Burma).

“Saya nak tanya apa salah mereka (yang ditahan). Polis tidakpun memberi amaran tetapi bertindak kasar dan menahan enam aktivis.Saya ada di situ ketika Tian dan yang lain ditahan.Saya peguam saya nak tanya polis apa salah mereka,” kata Shamsul ketika ditemui di lokasi kejadian di sini hari ini.

Beliau yang juga seorang peguam, mengutuk tindakan ganas pihak polis yang disifatkan sebagai membelakangi sistem demokrasi di negara ini.

Keadaan bertambah buruk kerana tindakan ganas ini berlaku di hadapan persidangan Asean, yang kini rata-ratanya sedang membincangkan isu demokrasi di Myanmar.

“Malaysia sibuk membincangkan soal demokrasi di Myanmar, tetapi di hadapan mata sendiri polis bertindak membelakangi demokrasi.Ramai wartawan dari dalam dan luar negara nampak tindakan polis ini,” katanya.

Tian Chuan dan lima yang lain ditahan sebelum sempat memulakan perhimpunan aman di hadapan KLCC sempena persidangan negara-negara Asean.

Ketika penulis dan Jurugambar Harakah sampai ditempat kejadian, Tian Chua dan lima yang lain ditarik oleh polis dalam keadaan yang agak kasar.

Sementara itu Timbalan Ketua Penerangan AMK, Badrul Hisham Shaharim yang menerima laporan terkini daripada Tian Chua memberitahu, Tian Chua mendakwa dipukul polis ketika dalam trak polis.

Tian Chua yang sempat menelefon Badrul Hisham sebelum telefonnya diserahkan kepada polis memberitahu cermin matanya patah akibat dipukul di bahagian muka, dakwanya.

Atas insiden itu Tian Chuan meminta AMK dan PKR membuat satu laporan polis ke atas tindakan ganas pihak polis hari ini, katanya.

Sementara itu Ketua Pemuda PAS, Salahuddin Ayob yang tiba setelah enam aktivis dibawa ke Lokap Balai Polis Pudu berkata, pihaknya kesal dengan sikap ganas polis itu.

Malah katanya, dalam suasana imej polis sendiri dipertikai berikutan isu perempuan bogel yang dipaksa ketuk ketampi dalam tahanan, hari ini polis bertindak lebih ganas menahan rakyat yang mahu bersuara soal demokrasi.

Turut hadir bersama Salahuddin ialah, Setiausaha Agung PAS, Dato’ Kamaruddin Jaffar dan Pengerusi Lanjah Antarabangsa, Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi.

 

‘’Saya saksikan sendiri polis heret Tian Chua'’ - Abdullah

OLeh WAN NORDIN WAN YAACOB

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Dis (Hrkh) - “Depan mata saya bila saya sampai jam 11.00 pagi tadi bagaimana pihak polis bertindak dengan cara yang begitu kasar, mengheret beberapa orang pimpinan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) termasuk Tian Chua dan aktivis pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang saya rasa tindakan itu boleh dipertikaikan,” kata Exco Jabatan Pembagunan Pelajar Dewan Pemuda PAS Pusat, Abdullah Abdul Karim ketika ditemui di lokasi kejadian di hadapan KLCC hari ini.
Menurut Abdullah, tindakan polis itu boleh dipertikai kerana mereka yang ditahan tidak melakukan sebarang kesalahan, malah hanya baru hendak mula berhimpun.

“Ini merupakan satu perkara yang memalukan Malaysia di mata dunia dan saya kira adalah satu perkara yang baik bagaimana wartawan dan rakyat luar negara dapat melihat bagaimana cara kerajaan bertindak ala diktator di Malaysia dalam menyuraikan perhimpunan aman,” katanya.

Abdullah memberitahu, perhimpunan itu juga tidak disertai ramai, tetapi telah disuraikan dengan cara yang amat tidak bertamadun.

Beliau yang kesal dengan kejadian itu menyatakan polis masih lagi tidak menyedari bahawa mereka sekali lagi akan menjadi perhatian dengan peristiwa yang berlaku sekarang ini setelah imej mereka tercemar akibat pendedahan isu tahanan dibogelkan baru-baru ini, katanya.

Beliau yang juga seorang peguam menyatakan Pemuda PAS berasa amat malu dengan tindakan kasar polis dalam meyuraikan rakyat yang ketika itu sedang menjalankan hak mereka di bawah perlembagaan untuk berhimpun secara aman menyatakan suara mereka, katanya.

Perhimpunan aman anjuran pelbagai parti politik itu diadakan bagi menyuarakan isu pelarian, migrasi dan demokrasi Myanmar kepada pemimpin negara Asean yang sedang bersidang di sini.

Begitupun, sebelum sempat ianya dimulakan polis bertindak menahanan Ketua Penerangan PKR, Tian Chua dan beberapa aktivis yang sedang mula berkumpul di hadapan KLCC.

Lima yang lain ialah, aktivis Suara Rakyat Malaysia, Ginnie Lim, Jasmine Ng, Mohd Fikri, sementara dua lagi rakyat Myanmar yang hingga kini belum dapat dikenalpasti.-wn.

KENYATAAN MEDIA ANGKATAN MUDA

Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat kesal dengan Persidangan Kemuncak Negara-negara Asia Tenggara (Asean) yang tidak membincangkan isu-isu berkaitan dengan hak asasi negara-negara anggota terutama sekali berkaitan dengan tahanan politik di Burma dan penindasan rakyat Pattani.

Kami mendapati persidangan Asean kali ini tidak membincangkan isu-isu penting yang menyentuh perihal hak asasi manusia.

Justeru, Angkatan Muda menuntut agar:

1. Menjadikan hak asasi manusia sebagai salah satu piagam ASEAN.
2. Memberi tekanan yang sewajarnya untuk membebaskan semua tahanan politik serta-merta.
3. Mengiktiraf pilihanraya 1990 Burma dan mengekalkan kerajaan pilihan rakyat.
4. Menyelesaikan konflik keamanan di selatan Thailand.

Angkatan Muda juga mendesak agar Kerajaan Malaysia juga membincangkan isu yang berkaitan dengan pekerja migran dan pelarian terutama sekali di negara-negara jiran.

ASEAN juga didesak untuk memberi perlindungan terhadap pelarian, masyarakat Pattani, Acheh dan lain-lain lagi mengikut piawai antarabangsa.

Kami juga mendesak agar Kerajaan Malaysia membebaskan 68 tahanan Burma yang didakwa terlibat dalam perhimpunan aman mendesak kerajaan mereka menghormati prinsip demokrasi.

Disediakan oleh:
Faisal Mustaffa
Ketua Biro Antarabangsa
Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat

Ahli jawatankuasa keADILan Kelana Jaya
14 Disember 2005

YOUTH WING MEDIA STATEMENT

HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE: ASEAN MUST BE BOLD

The Youth Wing of People’s Justice Party is disappointed with the 11th Asean Summit who refuse to discuss issues pertaining to human rights in member countries especially on the political prisoners in Burma and the oppression of the people of Pattani.

We found that this Summit disregarded in solving important issues that touches human rights.

Thus, the Youth Wing demands the leaders of Asean to:

1. Make human rights as one of the Asean Charters.
2. Provide necessary pressure to release all political prisoners immediately.
3. Recognize Burma’s 1990 election and maintain the people’s choice of government.
4. Solve peace conflict in southern Thai.

The Youth Wing also urges the Government of Malaysia to discuss the issues relating to migrant workers and refugees especially in Asean neighboring countries.

Asean also is to be urged to provide protection to refugees in Pattani, Acheh and other areas in Southeast Asia by considering the international standards.

We also urge the Government of Malaysia to release all 68 Burma detainees who were involved in peaceful assembly wanting their government to respect the principle of democracy.

Prepared by:
Faisal Mustaffa
Head of International Bureau
Youth Wing, People’s Justice Party

Comittee member of KeADILan Kelana Jaya
14 December 2005

Press Statement for Protest on ASEAN SUMMIT

The ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, which began with a lot of fanfare and promises of better days ahead for the region, has instead fallen flat on the face.

Despite its rhetoric of an of an integrated regional identity, it has evidently failed to address major unsettling issues confronting the region.

Despite repeatedcalls by civil society organizations in the region, ASEAN remains obstinate in refusing to officially address during the Summit, key issues affecting the region and makes excuses such as “non-interference” to circumvent discussions that matter to the people’s lives and livelihoods.

They include the absence of democracy and human rights in Burma and southern Thailand; a multilateral agreement and basic labour standards with regards to its own workers, migrant workers and asylum-seekers, and transborder environmental issues, such as the haze and avian flu. What is evident, is that ASEAN is not been equipped to address these pertinent issues and various crises all these years.

If ASEAN were to be a relevant and functioning regional grouping, ready to tackle problems facing South East Asia in the 21st Century, the organization must be able to build and institute mechanisms within its member states to debate and resolve transboundary crises.

For example, concrete measures such as the ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, which has been on the table for close to a decade, should have be taken seriously in order to see the realisation of a human rights accord in South East Asia.

ASEAN should have suspended Burma (Myanmar) in light of its continued repression on its people and ongoing detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and thousands of politcal prisoners.

ASEAN should have intervened in south Thailand to stop the daily bloodshed in these highly militarised and beseiged provinces.

ASEAN governments need to have courage to face the real world, outside convention centres and luxury hotels. It has an obligation to create spaces and channels that offer solutions, not prolong problems and conflicts in the region. It has to dismantle failed policies such as “non-interference” and “constructive engagement” and substitute with those that see more action and less talk.

The people of ASEAN expects the ASEAN Summit to evolve into an effective regional body that gives meaning to their lives. It must therefore demonstrate its political will to resolve regional problem through promoting healthy democratic processed, and to intervene decisively in problem areas such as in Burma and south Thailand.

Failure to do so, will result in a regional crisis and threaten the region’s development and in effect, the everyday lives of the people of ASEAN.

The statement was prepared on 14 December 2005 and endorsed by ATUC - ASEAN Trade Union Council (Syed Shahir is the President of ATUC) and Tenaganita (Dr Irene Fernandez is the Executive Director)

Other organizations:

keADILan, PAS, Chin National League for Solidarity (CNLS), Comittee of Burmese Workers in Malaysia (CBWM), Demoractic Party for a New Society - Burma, Labor Resource Centre (LRC), Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Group Malaysia, Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS) and Women Development Collective (WDC).

PRESS STATEMENT

Gabungan Membantah Penswastaan Perkhidmatan Kesihatan and Kesatuan Kakitangan Am Universiti Malaya organized a forum entitled “Helath Care System in Crisis:The People’s Proposal” today.

The former Director-General of Health Ministry, Tan Sri Dr Khalid bin Sahad, who had rejected calls to privatise health seervices while in the civil service, gave the keynote address.

The main arguments of the People’s proposals are:

1. Need for the government to consult with civil society groups regarding the proposed national health financing scheme.

2.Equitable health system.

3. The proposed National Health Fund should not be funded from pockets of individuals but most come from public funds. At present, the Federal Government is spending only 2.05% of GDP on health well below the World Health Organization’s recommendation of at least 5% of GDP. The People’s proposal is recommending that the health budget be increased to 4% of GDP or to RM17 billion. Other sources of revenue should come from taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, Petronas profits and some proportion of the levy on foreign workers.

4. The proposed National Health Authority should be transparent and be established by an Act of Parliament. Accountability of the authority must be ensured by representation of civil society groups.

5. Government should first focus on strengthening the present health system.

6. Comprehensive health must all irrespective of ability to pay. The essential package must be include all treatment options available in the present public health delivery system.

7. Call for Royal Commision on Health (National Health Policy). Over 120 individuals from civil society groups, NGOs and unions who were present at the Foru, agreed veryone, citizens and migrant workers had a right to health. Groups endorsed the people’s proposal on how to safeguard the present public health system.

Groups would give more feedback on the People’s proposal to the Gabungan Membantah Penswastaan Perkhidmatan Kesihatan after holding satellite consultations with their respective groups in the next several months. Gabungan will then handover the final document to the Prime Minister.

The group also agreed for the need to pursue dialoguing with the government concerning details of terms of reference on the study of the proposed national health financing scheme.

Besides MTUC, this statement is also endorsed by keADILan, DAP, PAS, PSM, Suaram, WDC and NCWO.

The statement was issued on 11 December 2005

300 juta pekerja Asean ditekan-MTUC

KUALA LUMPUR: Wujud kecenderungan baru di kalangan para pelabur di Asean untuk mengambil pekerja secara kontrak iaitu setahun atau dua tahun, kata Setiausaha Agung Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC), G Rajasekaran.

“Ia sudah berlaku di Vietnam, Indonesia dan seluruh negara rantau Asean. Pekerja kontrak hanya mendapat gaji tetapi tidak ada pampasan apabila kontrak tamat,” katanya.

Di Malaysia, katanya, firma yang paling banyak mengamalkan pengambilan pekerja secara kontrak ialah syarikat yang terbabit dengan sektor tenologi maklumat terutama yang beroperasi di Cyberjaya.

Rajasekaran berkata, apabila kes ini dibawa kepada Kementerian Sumber Manusia, para pegawainya menjelaskan ia tidak salah.

Katanya, kilang kereta Proton, milik kerajaan juga mengamalkan cara ini dengan mengambil pekerja secara kontrak.

“Perkara yang berlaku ini sangat serius kepada masa depan pekerja, tiada jaminan mereka akan kekal dalam sesuatu pekerjaan sekarang ini,” katanya.

Beliau menegaskan demikian ketika ditemui selepas majlis dialog mengenai Piagam Sosial Asean di Petaling Jaya, 5 Disember lalu.

Rajasekaran mendakwa undang-undang buruh di rantau Asean sangat buruk kerana ia ditentukan oleh majikan, terutama pelabur asing.

Katanya, mereka mengambil peluang itu dengan menekan kira-kira 300 juta pekerja dan menjadikan negara Asean sebagai kilang produk untuk pasaran dunia.

“Keringat pekerja dikerah, gaji yang rendah, kebajikan diabaikan dan undang-undang menindas mereka. Kerajaan pula tidak membantu, menjadikan fenomena ini berleluasa. Pekerja pula tidak berani menentang kerana bimbang periuk nasi mereka tertutup,” katanya.

Masa depan pekerja di Asia Tenggara ditentukan oleh pelabur dan bukannya oleh kerajaan atau pemimpin kerajaan. Pelabur menindas pekerja dengan ‘kebenaran’ kerajaan,î katanya.

Katanya, persidangan pemimpin Asean tidak pernah membincangkan masalah kaum pekerja tetapi sebaliknya memfokuskan kepada pelaburan dan pembangunan serantau.

Malah, katanya, masalah asas pekerja seperti gaji rendah dan kebajikan mereka yang terabai, masih belum selesai kerana kerajaan mahu ia diselesaikan oleh pelabur.

“Apabila kesatuan sekerja cuba membantu pekerja, pelabur dengan angkuh menempelak, siapa kamu untuk mencampuri urusan ini? Majikan atau pelabur juga mendakwa kesatuan sekerja tidak membantu pembangunan negara ,” katanya lagi.

Rajasekaran berkata, golongan pekerja di Asean kini berdepan dengan masa depan yang muram kerana undang-undang pekerja tidak membela mereka.

Sebagai contoh, katanya, di Pulau Batam dan Bintan, pekerja warga Indonesia di syarikat milik pelabur Singapura menghadapi pelbagai ketidakadilan, seperti soal gaji yang rendah dan kebajikan terabai.

Kerajaan Amerika Syarikat pula, tambahnya, mewajibkan negara Asean mengamalkan undang-undang buruh Singapura untuk membolehkan pasaran mereka menembusi pasaran Amerika.

Tetapi katanya, berlaku kecelaruan di kalangan negara Asean dan ini menyebabkan undang-undang, buruh yang ada tidak membantu golongan pekerja.

KUALA LUMPUR: Skim Insurans Kesihatan Kebangsaan (SIKK) yang akan diwajibkan kerajaan pada tahun depan terus menerima bantahan berbagai pihak.

Terbaru satu forum yang diadakan bagi membantah perkara tersebut di Pusat Siswazah, Universiti Malaya pada 11 Disember lalu mendesak kerajaan mendapatkan maklum balas dari orang ramai sebelum diwartakan di Parlimen.

Forum anjuran Gabungan Membantah Penswastaan Perkhidmatan Kesihatan dan Kesatuan Kakitangan Am Universiti Malaya itu turut dihadiri oleh bekas Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Kesihatan, Tan Sri Dr Khalid Sahad dan Timbalan Setiausaha Agung KeADILan Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

Menurut Dr Xavier, jika SIKK hendak dilaksanakan maka kerajaan perlu memastikan skim itu tidak dibiayai oleh orang perseorangan sebaliknya daripada wang kerajaan.

“Kini kerajaan memperuntukan sebanyak 2.05 peratus dari Keluaran Dasar Dalam Negara (KDNK) untuk kesihatan sedangkan Pertubuhan Kesihatan Dunia (WTO) mencadangkan sekurang-kurangnya 4 peratus,” kata beliau.

Menurutnya, berdasarkan jumlah itu bermakna kerajaan hanya membelanjakan sebanyak RM 9 bilion untuk kesihatan daripada jumlah yang sepatutnya sebanyak RM 17 bilion.

Beliau turut mencadangkan supaya kerajaan menggunakan cukai rokok dan minuman keras bagi menampung tanggung kerajaan untuk kesihatan.

“Selain cukai rokok dan minuman keras, keuntungan Petronas sebanyak 10 peratus serta 30 peratus daripada levy pekerja asing di negara ini berjumlah RM 2 bilion boleh digunakan untuk tujuan tersebut,” katanya.

Malaysia masih ketinggalan berbanding negara-negara besar seperti British dan Amerika Syarikat yang memperuntukkan 9 hingga 14 peratus daripada KDNK untuk kesihatan.

Selain itu, beliau juga mendesak kerajaan menubuhkan satu Suruhanjaya Di Raya untuk Kesihatan bagi merumuskan satu Dasar Kesihatan Kebangsaan yang tidak pernah wujud.

“Sungguh memalukan selepas 48 tahun merdeka, Malaysia masih belum lagi mempunyai satu Dasar Kesihatan Kebangsaan bagi membentuk hala tuju perkhidmatan kesihatan negara,” ujarnya.

Selain KeADILan, Gabungan Membantah Penswastaan Perkhidmatan Kesihatan turut dianggotai oleh PAS, DAP, PSM dan 82 NGO termasuk MTUC, Pertubuhan Perubatan Malaysia, Kesatuan Doktor Gigi Malaysia, Kesatuan Jururawat Malaysia, Suaram dan WDC.

Empty chatter irks healthcare coalition

by: Claudia Theophilus (Malaysiakini)

Dec 13, 05 2:01pm

Even after a year of “regular discussions” with government officials, additional details have yet to emerge over the national health financing scheme, complains a coalition that is protesting the move. 

“We’ve been discussing this with health ministry officials for over a year now and it’s clear that the government is has yet to decide on the crucial aspects of the scheme,” said Coalition Against Healthcare Privatisation secretary Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj.

“Even the list of illnesses in the essential health package is not ready. When we asked if heart disease will be included, the ministry said it is waiting for the consultant (to determine this).”

Jeyakumar said the government is looking for a consultant to help flesh out the framework of the proposal, targeted for implementation in 2007. Mooted about 20 years ago, the scheme has yet to be finalised.

Close to two million Malaysians comprising civil servants, senior citizens, hardcore poor and the disabled will reportedly be exempted from paying into the financing scheme when implemented.

“Despite assurances of remaining fair and equitable with quality care for everyone, the government still intends for people to pay for healthcare. But it remains silent on the operational details,” he told a forum on ‘Health Financing Reform - Should We Be Concerned?’ on Sunday.

About 120 representatives from civil society groups and individuals were brought up to speed on the proposal and the coalition’s counter-proposals.

Copies of a dossier on the proposal and counter-proposals, official correspondence, minutes of meetings and news clippings were distributed.

The half-day forum, jointly organised by the coalition and the Universiti Malaya General Staff Union, was held in Kuala Lumpur.

Concerns about consultant

Since the late 1990s, civil society groups have been insisting on full disclosure of healthcare proposals to thwart backdoor attempts that lack sound mechanisms.

The healthcare coalition of more than 80 groups believes that a lack of information and transparency has left the proposed reform “full of holes”.

Coalition chairperson Dr Subramaniam Pillay raised concerns over the source of funding for the consultant’s work.

“It’s worrying that the government has chosen to accept United Nations Development Programme money for this, which means it will not be responsible for the appointment.”

Subramaniam, a retired Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer, said the arrangement could reflect the donor agency’s bias toward privatisation.

“Also worrying is the lack of details as to how the consultant plans to consult Malaysians,” he said.

He said one of the problems in the healthcare system is the mismatch between the number of patients and medical specialists in the public sector.

“At the moment, government hospitals have about 75 percent of all admissions but only have 25 percent of local specialists, leading to poor quality of care in certain illnesses.

“The government’s proposal touching on the private sector, including the introduction of private insurance, could come in at a later stage.”

He blamed the exodus of doctors on such factors as piecemeal policies on creating private dispensaries and private wings in government hospitals, promotion of health tourism in private hospitals, and a hike in charges to be paid by migrant workers.

Improving the pay and working conditions plus perks such as continuing education and training is the coalition’s answer to plugging the brain-drain.

Subramaniam reiterated the concern over the imposition of premium payments, saying this would be impractical and that it could derail the health-reform agenda.

“A mandatory monthly contribution is not practical as a large segment of the population is self-employed and not salaried. There will be administrative hurdles.”

He said any health authority that is established must have the power to review contracts, access information and be provided with an adequate allocation to monitor the use of the health financing scheme fund.

“It should be a transparent body established by an Act of Parliament with accountability ensured by representation of civil society groups.”

Healthcare allocation

During the discussion, participants called for checks on financial mismanagement and for procedural accountability.

They said no one should be excluded from the system, including migrants workers, and suggested a Royal Commission on the National Health Policy to be established as part of a health sector revamp.

Forum co-ordinator Dr Xavier Jayakumar said it is clear that people want an equitable healthcare system that does not impose a financial burden on individuals.

“(For this reason), the counter-proposal recommends that the health budget be increased to RM16 billion.”
It would mean raising federal spending on healthcare from 1.8 percent to three percent of the GDP. The World Health Organisation’s figure is 5 percent for developing countries.

Other sources of revenue, he said, should come from taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, Petronas profits (about RM5 billion) and a proportion of the levy imposed on foreign workers (about RM50 million).

Xavier said the forum participants will brief their respective organisations and provide feedback on the counter-proposals within the next few months.

“We will hand over the final document to the prime minister and continue to dialogue with the government over the details of the proposed scheme,” he said.

In the keynote address at the start of the forum, former health director-general Dr Abdul Khalid Sahan stressed that provision of healthcare is primary duty of the government.

Relating how he had steadily opposed privatisation while in the ministry, he said the proposed healthcare reform should be undertaken as a project with specific terms of reference.

“In view of the complexity of the exercise, it is best undertaken by an independent body external to the ministry. It would be a mistake to allow this to be taken in-house as another one of the ministry’s activities.”
What Malaysia urgently needs, he pointed out, is a national health policy.

“Two decades after the first study in 1984/85, and several years of subsequent related studies, we are still no closer to (having one),” he added.

No Democracy Without Equality

In conjunction to Human Rights Day, 10th December 2005

Women contribute equally as men to the growth and advancement of the Malaysian economy and society. But in celebrating human rights today, JAGEE is dissapointed to note the continued disregard for many of the rights of Malaysians, in particular the rights of women. Some examples include:

1. Government’s Non-Compliance on Promises of Geder Equality.
The 20-year old battle to reform other laws and policies that discriminate against women is still incomplete despite the amendment to Article 8(2) of the Constitution.

2. Police Abuse of Power.
The recent cases involving women detainees from China show clearly how easy it is to humiliate and shame women because they are vulnerable. It is symptomatic of the inability of the Government and the Royal malaysian Police to balance their roles in crime control without themselves becoming part of the problem.

3. The Moral Policing of Women.
In raids conducted by religious authorities and subsequent detention, women were often tagetted and discriminated against. In one particular raid by JAWI officials, women were made to parade in front of the officers in order to ‘determine’ their ‘offences’. They were also not allowed to use the bathroom. In another raid, one woman was forced to relieve herself in the detention lorry and was photographed in the act by an officer.

4. Low Representation of Women in Government and Decision Making Bodies.
Women are heavily under-represented in the legislative, political, judicial, and other decision making processes in Malaysia. Their work and contributions are often valued less than men’s, and they generally have less “say” at all levels of society. Women’s participation and representation need to be increased to qualitatively transform the current decisio making processes so that more gender-sentisied decisions can be made.

Discrimination against women continues because the Government has failed to understand that whilst ratifying international conventions and amending the Constitution are important, they are insufficient in themselves to bring about gender equality. Issues of discrimination, leading to gender inequality have deep roots in the interpretation and practice of culture, tradition and religion. treating men and women the same is not equality. The Government has to recognise that men and women are different, but that those differences do not devalue women’s worth or the contributions that women make. Women want substantive equality: this means that women want the laws and policies in place and implemented so that women may enjoy the results.

Women must be free to develop their personal abilities, and make choices without being limited by stereotypes e.g. women as weak and only capable of nurturing roles, whilst men are strong and are the breadwinners. Different aspirations and needs of women and men must be considered, valued and respected. Enabling women to enjoy their rights should also result in expansion of democratic spaces, including freedom of speech, freedom of association and the exercise of civil, cultural and political rights.

JAGGE therefore calls for the promotion of gender equality and greater democratic spaces. In particular:

1. Act on Legal and Policy Reforms Now.
The Government needs to put in place the legal and policy reform proposals made by JAGGE which include critical amendments to laws that discriminate against women, especially in the Penal Code, the Evidence Act 1950, the Criminal Procedure Code and Syariah Laws that are vital in ensuring a just and fair criminal system in dealing with violence against women.

2. Stop Police Abuse.
An Immediate end to police abuse of powers. The police officers responsible for the continued harassment and violence against the women detainees must be charged in court.

Ultimately, the fight for women’s human rights must be about making women’s lives matter everywhere, all the time and at all levels. Take action to stop discrimination and violence against women.

Prepared by:

Maria Chin Abdullah
Executive Director, Women;s Developmet Collective.

MTUC is a member of JAGGE

Jika seorang bayi lahir sekitar bualn Ogos dalam tahun 1957 maka usianya sekarang pastilah sekitar 45 tahun. Beliau bukan sahaja sudah membesar malah sudah menjadi dewasa. Tentulah sebagai insan yang normal ia sudah berkeluarga, yakni mempunyai beberapa orang anak. Memang benar insan seperti ini hidup seperti orang-orang lain dalam negara kita yang dicintai ini.

Yang menjadi persoalannya ialah: Bagaimana dengan kualiti dan nilai hidup manusia-manusia yang bernama pekerja dalam suasana negara yang telah 45 tahun menikmati kemerdekaan?

Bagi sebahagian orang tarikh 31 Ogos sekadar merupakan satu tarikah dalam kalendar tahun Masehi sahaja. Bagi golongan yang kedua ini tentulah mereka mempunyai alasan atau hujah mengapa tarikh 31 Ogos itu tidak mempunyai erti apa-apa buat mereka.

Kemerdekaan adalah suatu kata keramat yang besar ertinya kepada sesuatu bangsa yang mempunyai peradaban. Kemerdekaan tidak cukup dengan hanya menurunkan sehelai bendera dan kemudiannya diikuti dengan menaikkan sehelai bendera yang lain. Berjuang dan menuntut kemerdekaan bukan perkara kecil.

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Banyak orang bercakap mengenai ketelusan dan kejujuran sesebuah organisasi. sebarang bentuk organisasi yang melibatkan orang ramai akan dituntut agar berlaku jujur, telus dan bertanggungjawab. Banyak negara di dunia ini yang sangat menitikberatkan ketelusan dan pertanggungjawaban. Kalau dulu kita jarang mendengar kalimat-kalimat seperti ‘transparency’ (ketelusan) dan ‘accountability (pertanggungjawaban), namun sekarang kalimat-kalimat ini sering dipakai.

Persoalannya ialah: Mengapa ketelusan dan pertanggungjawaban ini menjadi penting? Buat manusia, selagi dia mempunyai kepentingan secara langsung atau sebaliknya dalam sesebuah organisasi maka sudah tentu dia ingin tahu segala hal yang berlaku dalm organisasi tersebut. Apa lagi jika perkara-perkara itu melibatkan kewangan dan moral. Misalnya jika sekumpulan orang menjadi pemegang saham kepada sesebuah syarikat, walaupun boleh jadi jumlah sahamnya kecil, namun sebagai orang yang berkepentingan dalam syarikat tersebut maka sudah tentulah segala hal yang berlaku akan diberi perhatian.

Apa yang berlaku ke atas dua buah syarikat besar di Amerika Syarikat baru-baru ini - iaitu Enron dan Worldcoms - telah membuka mata bukan sahaja rakyatnya malah umat manusia di seluruh dunia. Peristiwa itu benar-benar telah memeranjatkan dunia korporat. Banyak orang tertanya-tanya: bagaimana mungkin syarikat yang dikendalikan oleh tokoh-tokoh profesional dan mereka yang pakar dalam bidang pengurusan boleh melakukan penyelewengan itu?

Semua lapisan masyarakat di Amerika, daripada golongan bawahan hinggalah kepada anggota-anggota Senat malah Presidennya sendiri, telah melahirkan rasa kecewa mereka terhadap apa yang disebut sebagai ‘skandal’ dalam dunia korporat!

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