Palace Shame

Photo credit: Sunday Star, June 27, 2010, p N1

Sunday Star’s front-page headline is "Cry for help" and it refers to the foreign workers’ plight in the Istana Negara project. These workers hired to build the RM800 million Palace are claiming that they have not received three months’ wages from some project sub-contractors despite working seven days a week. There are supposedly over 1,000 migrant workers from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal and Vietnam hired by 130 sub-contractors working at the project site.

The Star, responding to an SOS call had visited the site in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur and found the workers living in frustration and fear as many do not have work permits or cannot afford to renew their permits which have expired.

What is disgraceful is that the Public Works Department is overseeing the project on behalf of the Government and they have a presence in Jalan Duta. At the PWD site office, construction manager Aidzil Adzahar Ahmad said Maya Maju Sdn Bhd, the main contractor for the palace project was responsible for the workers.

The Star reported that when they visited Maya Maju’s site office, also in Jalan Duta, project manager Abdul Razak Mat Yunus said they paid their contractors on time and it was up to them to pay their workers; that it was their responsibility. Doesn’t this sound familiar? I call it “passing the buck”.

According to workers interviewed by the Star, some employers threatened to call the police when they persisted in asking for their wages. Several workers even claimed they were harassed by the police and Rela officers and that their possessions like mobile phones, cigarettes and canned drinks were confiscated.

When contacted, Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam said he would ask the Labor Department to investigate the matter and take immediate action.

Indonesian Punawi, 32, who does plastering work, said he had not been paid for five months and barely had any money left for food. “I only manage with one meal a day and that’s because the foodstall owner allows me to eat on credit. My work permit has expired and I don’t have RM3,000 to renew it,” he added.

Photo credit: Sunday Star, June 27, 2010, p N5

Jatim, 37, said their employer would hold back their wages for three to four months and they would subsequently be paid a month’s salary.

Some employers, he claimed, would extend loans of RM50 to RM100 per week to the workers, leaving them in debt.

Such stories (pp N1, N5) are nothing new and yet, the authorities have so far, not been able to stop this blatant exploitation of foreign workers. Or are they unwilling to do so because there is so much abuse and corruption in the system – that no one wants to stick his or her neck out for this maligned group of foreigners? Why do we persist in building imposing and impressive edifices on the sweat and tears of these workers whom we are milking so scandalously?

We, Malaysians should be ashamed of ourselves!

Today, the match between England and Germany saw my fave team outplaying the Three Lions to produce a fabulous 4-1 win. Germany has proven to be too quick, too mobile, too intelligent for England! Germany’s scorers were Miroslav Klose (20), Lukas Podolski (32), and Thomas Mueller (67, 70) whilst England’s only goal came from Matthew Upson (37). Congratulations to Germany – they were magnificent!

England fans should take note that – other than on home soil, when England went on to win the WC in 1966 – they have never won a knockout match against any of the teams that have won the World Cup!