the blogging syed shahir

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Bernama) — Malaysian companies will be able to save more than RM400 million in the next two years with the reduction in the contribution to the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) under the second economic stimulus package unveiled today, according to the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).

MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan this was something the employers had been asking the government since last year. At present, the employers pay RM1 per worker per month towards the fund. This has been reduced to 50 sen per worker.

The government should consider giving a full waiver on the retrenchment sum received by the workers, he told Bernama when commenting on the RM60-billion Second Stimulus Package tabled in the Dewan Rakyat. The package had proposed a 40 per cent waiver.

Shamsuddin said another area where the government could help was to absorb the RM300 fee per worker that was required to test the worker’s skills. He explained that Malaysian workers who had worked for many years possessed certain skills, but these skills were not certified and hence the workers lost out when it came to promotions.

So, it was important to certify the skills, he said. The Human Resources Ministry conducted such tests and it cost about RM300 per worker.

On the whole, the MEF welcomed the stimulus package as it would ease the burden of workers and employers.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) said that though it welcomed the package, it was disappointed that the government did not propose a retrenchment fund.

Its president, Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, said the fund would have benefited the 20,000 retrenched workers directly.

He also said that it was an opportune time for the government to have introduced a minimum wage of RM900 plus a cost-of-living allowance (COLA) of RM300.

Syed Shahir said he hoped that the stimulus package would be properly monitored to prevent leakages.

On the training proposed in the stimulus package, he said the training should be specific and be useful so that the trained workers could be gainfully employed.

Cuepacs, while welcoming the budget, hoped that the 50,000 contract workers now in government service would be absorbed into the permanent service.

Its president, Omar Osman, said the toll subsidy was also most welcomed as it would reduce the burden of the low-income group.

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) praised the government for helping to lessen the burden of the ordinary people, particularly the poor, by providing subsidy for basic necessities like sugar, flour and bread.

Its chief executive officer, Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman, said the government should carefully monitor the subsidies to prevent any abuse.

— BERNAMA

New Straits Times

THE Selangor state government has received the backing of trade unions and consumers in its plan to take over the water services industry in the state.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and the Coalition Against Water Privatisation presented a joint memorandum to Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to voice their dissatisfaction over the Federal Government’s move to acquire water assets in the state yesterday.

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said at parliament lobby yesterday he was heartened by the assurances given by the state government that water tariffs would remain at an affordable rate even after the restructuring of the water services.

Under the initial restructuring plan, the state government, via state-controlled Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB), would take over the water concessions and assets, to be handed over to Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd, a wholly-owned company under the Ministry of Finance.

The assets would then be leased back to KDEB as the sole licensed operator. This is because after the restructuring exercise, there would no longer be concessionaires.
Instead, licence will be issued to the operator which would be reviewed by the Federal Government every few years.

S Pathmawathy (Malaysiakini)

The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) and the Coalition Against Water Privatisation (CAWP) have urged the Selangor government not to back down on their efforts to reclaim water management in the state.
MCPX

“Water, as other public or common goods, should never be in the hands of profit-driven businesses,” MTUC president Syed Shahir Mohamud said today.

The link of the interview: CLICK HERE

Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: There is no immediate need to consider the Malaysian Trades Union Congress’ (MTUC) proposal for a pay cut for Ministers, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman Friday.

He said the State Government has always been very prudent in its financial management.

“For Sabah, I think we manage our finances very prudently, we’ve been austere from the start. In terms of our expenses, we have no problem.

So there’s no need (for a pay cut) now,” he said.

He was asked to comment on the proposal made by MTUC President, Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, that all Ministers take a pay cut if the economic situation in the country warrants it, saying workers should not be the only ones victimised following the global economic crisis.

The suggestion was made in the wake of reports late last year that Ministers and top civil servants in Singapore were subjected to pay cuts of up to 19 per cent this year in view of the gloomy economic outlook.

According to Syed Shahir, MTUC had received reports of some 13,000 people, mainly from the manufacturing sector, having been retrenched nationwide from October 2008 to January this year.

Met after launching the Masterskill College Metro campus at Plaza Juta, off Tuaran Road here, Musa said the State Government was working closely with the Health Ministry to find the best solution to the problems affecting the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

In the meantime, he said the State Government was also recommending that patients be placed at temporary medical facilities and hospitals in nearby districts.

Asked on the latest development of the QEH, Musa, who is also Finance Minister, said the State Government had submitted several proposals for the Health Ministry to study.

“We have no time frame but we are trying to solve the problem as soon as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Musa said the State Government welcomed the opening of the Masterskill Metro campus here as it provides opportunity to school leavers and locals to study in the healthcare sector.

He added it also augured well, with the opening of many new hospitals throughout the State, which require many skilled workers from the healthcare and services sectors.

To another question, Musa said an explanation would be sought from the State Government-linked company, Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco), which holds a share in Guocera Tile Industries (Labuan) Sdn Bhd for the closing down of its factory.

However, Musa said the State Government’s share in the company was “small” and that the main shareholder was Hong Leong Group, so “it is beyond our control”.

“Nonetheless, we will ask Sedco to explain why they close down the factory,” he said.

It was reported that the closure of the company that started operation in 1982 had resulted in mass layoff of its 150 employees.

It had blamed its predicament on the steep hike in natural gas price by Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC).