'Give plantation workers a better deal'

The plantation sector should come under the ambit of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and be accorded the same privileges and benefits that Felda settlers enjoy, said Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).

Secretary-general Arutchelvan said plantation workers have been sidelined for the past 52 years and left to fend for themselves whenever the economic situation saps the source of their livelihood.

“MIC has been sending the wrong message to these workers by equating plantations with poverty and encouraging them to move to urban areas where they encounter various types of social and economic problems,” he said.

To illustrate his point, he said four plantations had to make way for the development of Putrajaya and the displaced workers were shifted into cramped multi-storey flats where they faced social and economic problems.

“These plantation workers should have been absorbed into the rural development plan and given plots of land to build their homes and engage in agricultural activities that can sustain their living standard,” he said.

“MIC should equate plantations with prosperity and pressure the government to give out business loans and [...] help them under the 1Malaysia banner of (premier) Najib (Abdul) Razak.

“MIC, which claims to be the voice of Indian Malaysians, should turn this concept into practical implementation and not be mere spectators to the lopsided treatment of the community.”

As early as 1995, PSM had campaigned for the plantation sector to be included in rural development, but hit a brick wall. The same happened when, in 2000, they campaigned for a monthly wage structure for the plantation sector.

Arutchelvan was also asked to gauge the voting mood of Indian Malaysians in the upcoming Bagan Pinang by-election in Negri Sembilan on Oct 11.

Although, the Indian Malaysian community in the state seat is dwindling and is below the 20 percent assessed by the Election Commission, they are expected to make a difference to the electoral outcome.

Arutchelvan said plantation workers are wiser after the general election last year and that politicians can no longer pull the wool over their eyes by making empty promises.

“Now, they want the BN government to address their basic rights like providing homes, water and electricity supply, business opportunities and loans on par with other races,” he said .

Beef with BN

Arutchelvan said the workers are also unhappy with Barisan Nasional (BN) for not helping them get jobs and for encouraging the use of foreigners to replace them.

PSM carried out a survey recently of four estates of Ladang Saluk Antherton, Ladang Bradwall, Ladang Siliau and Ladang Suatong in the Bagan Pinang constituency in Negri Sembilan.

It found that the plantation population is dwindling as many locals had migrated to urban areas and have been replaced by foreign workers. In Ladang Bradwall, only 130 of the 450 families remain.

“These poor workers should be given a minimum wage structure for them to cope with the high cost of living. On average, a worker gets about RM300, which is way below the poverty line,” added Arutchelvan.

“Politicians come knocking on the doors whenever there is an election and promise them the sky in return for their votes and then vanish into the night, only to come knocking again at the next election.”

Mohd Isa Abdul Samad of BN is taking on Negri Sembilan PAS commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad in the by-election on Oct 11. Nominations will be filed on Saturday.

The state seat, considered a BN stronghold, fell vacant with the death of Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4.