YOURSAY | ‘The minister must have been blindfolded during the first visit…’

Minister finds Top Glove hostels in terrible condition, vows action

Pegasus: Why only check Top Glove? Go and check all the other workers’ hostels run by the other manufacturing companies. I am sure Human Resources Minister M Saravanan will find more abhorrent conditions, maybe even worse than Top Glove.

Our migrant workers are treated so badly by their employers, but when one of them complained, and Al Jazeera reported it, he was thrown into prison and banished to Bangladesh. All because the government refused to admit that our migrant workers are ill-treated in Malaysia.

Now you see what has happened. Disease and illnesses are spreading amongst them because they are not well looked after and treated humanely by their employers.

Our labour department seriously needs to buck up. Saravanan needs to do more as a minister of human resources.

WhiteHare7559: Saravanan and friends in the cabinet, you mean your ministry did not know about conditions of migrant workers’ accommodation, or is this just a face-saving statement to cover up your incompetence?

What about the "accommodation" of workers at all the construction sites, factories, hawker centres, et cetera. They live in deplorable makeshift shacks that pass off as homes.

All this so that their employers can enjoy big fat bonuses and their wives can adorn themselves with Cartier products.

Newday: “Shortcomings” to “terrible” within the space of four months. The hostels were terrible then as well. Now that we have a Covid-19 outbreak among the foreign workers, you have no choice – you cannot continue with ‘cover-ups’ anymore.

Saravanan, you were a fierce defender of Top Glove against the damning international reports and sanctions then.

It is so typical here - conceal and deflect our severe shortcomings of basic human rights for these imported workers. Once found out, you present a completely different story.

This issue of terrible quality accommodation has been around for years and reported on for many years as well. To resolve this issue is not the sole responsibility of Top Glove; it is a combined government and private enterprise solution.

The government facilitated the importing of workers and then turned a blind eye to their disgusting conditions after they arrive. You enabled this current crisis.

These people are humans first and foremost. I know of cockroaches that are treated better.

Hrrmph: Interesting isn't it, that in July there were only shortcomings in the hostels that can be addressed but four months later, it is in "terrible" conditions.

And after Top Glove's worker welfare has been in the limelight around the world, the company has reportedly hired independent consultants on the matter.

One can't help but surmised that the minister must have been blindfolded during the first visit, or so incompetent as not to know what he is saying.

Public Transit Is Better Than Highways: Finally, you are realising the issue highlighted by Al Jazeera a few months ago?

Either way, congratulations. You’ve just proved further that Al Jazeera’s documentary on migrant lockup conditions is true and beyond what the ordinary Malaysians might know.

YellowShark2197: US investigators had criticised this company, but some politicians were adamant in defending them at that time.

This is what happens in many factories and businesses in the country. They pay peanuts and provide horrible accommodation and a bad working environment so much so that many locals just don't want to work there.

Enforcement officers don't act because we all know what happens between the officers and employers.

BlueShark1548: Singapore checked and tested all its foreign workers and their hostels. Where conditions in the hostels were substandard, they were improved.

The actions taken by Singapore’s health ministry resulted in a big spike of Covid-19 cases reported, but the results of its actions are that the pandemic is now contained.

Malaysia took the politically correct course of not stirring the hornet’s nest and had low figures to make our health director-general look good.

However, it was inevitable that the DG would have to confront the issue of foreign workers. Now when we face the issue, Covid-19 has spread to more foreign workers and also locals.

This is the result when politicians interfere in what ought to be done by our healthcare professionals.

Low Class Coolie: 1) Raked in billions in profit yet treats migrant workers like dirt. Is there no basic human decency?

2) Red flags were raised by US authorities on Top Glove’s treatment of migrant workers, yet the relevant local ministry took no action.

3) Widespread virus amongst the migrant workers in Singapore for months, yet no proactive actions taken by our authorities with our workers.

Now that the virus situation is out of control and suddenly Saravanan wakes up and “does his round”. What a comedy of errors, and typical responses that are too little and too late.

Pokokelapa: Yes, this is the usual response from politicians. It never changes; this is all part of our culture, only to get worse. They all knew about it, but who cares?

Only when there is an issue, there will be a bit of drama and ‘wayang’ (show). Once the dust settles down, it is back to good old days. These people are good for nothing.

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