PRM Bantah Bawa Masuk Pekerja Asing Mahu Dasar Buruh Asing Murah Dihapus

18-02-16

PRM  Bantah Bawa Masuk Pekerja Asing Mahu  Dasar  Buruh Asing Murah Dihapus

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) membantah serta tidak bersetuju dengan hasrat dan alasan kerajaan yang hendak membawa masuk 1.5 juta pekerja Bangladesh dalam tiga tahun yang akan datang untuk mengisi bidang pekerjaan yang disifatkan Timbalan Perdana Menteri selaku Menteri Dalam Negeri Ahmad Zahid sebagai pekerjaan kotor. 

PRM dapati kenyataan menteri  tentang pengambilan masuk buruh asing ke negara ini bertentangan.

Pihak berkuasa mengumumkan akan mengambil masuk 1.5 juta buruh Bangladesh dalam tempoh tiga tahun akan datang walaupun sudah ada  6 juta pekerja asing berpermit dan masuk tanpa izin . Alasan ialah diminta oleh  pengusaha, dan pemuda-pemudi  kita  malas dan enggan bekerja dalam bidang yang kotor, tetapi pengusaha berkaitan menafikan bahawa mereka ada membuat permintaan tersebut.

Sedang pengambilan masuk pekerja asing panas dibahas umum, Timbalan Perdana Menteri selaku Menteri Dalam Negeri mengumumkan bahawa levi pada setiap pekerja asing akan dinaikkan dengan peratusan yang tinggi, pekerja asing haram akan diputihkan.

Apabila pengusaha membantah dan mengkritik kenaikan tiba-tiba levi tinggi yang membebankan, pihak berkenaan menjelaskan, keputusan   untuk  mengurangkan tabiat kebergantunagan pada pekerja asing, dan menggalakkan pengusaha mengalih kepada penggunaan teknologi intensif untuk mengurangkan bilangan pekerja asing.

Ini menunjukkan oada dasar tenaga pekerja pihak berkuasa ketandusan idea   untuk menangani dan mempertingkatkan daya produktif negara kini dan  untuk masa depan, serta berusaha secara beransur-ansur mengurangkan dan akhirnya menghentikan kebergantungan negara pada dasar tenaga  buruh asing murah.

Pada analisis PRM, masalah   ekonomi dan sosial  yang serius  melanda negara sekarang seperti kebergantungan  negara pada tenaga pekerja asing  dan soal dikecualikan  visa kemasukan pelancong negeri China  merupakan kesan negetif dasar pekerja asing murah dan sistem  rent-seeking yang diamalkan di negara ini.

Di bawah sistem ini, segelintir  yang berkuasa dan berpengaruh menerusi hubungan mereka, berusaha sedaya-upaya mendapatkan kebaikan dan keuntungan dengan cepat dan mudah  daripada apa jua dasar dan program ekonomi yang diadakan kerajaan.

Kegiatan ekonomi rent-seeking, dasar tenaga pekerja asing murah, ketirisan dan keborosan perbelanjaan  kewangan   kerajaan, penyalahgunaan kuasa yang terbentuk hari ini bukan  rakyat didahulukan, tidak manfaatkan rakyat, sebaliknya hanya menguntungkan segelintir orang berkuasa dan sahabat rakannya. Rakyat kebanyakan harus menanggung ketekanan dan kenaikan kos kehidupan, ekoran daripada kepincangan dasar dan polisi kerajaan yang tidak kena pada tempatnya.

Keputusan pihak berkuasa mengambil masuk 1.5 juta pekerja asing akan mengekalkan sistem upah murah, tidak menggalakkan peningkatan daya pengeluaran pekerja, kemahiran pengeluaran masyarakat tidak mungkin maju,  dan seterusnya daya saing negara  menurun.

Pekerja tempatan tidak dapat bersaing dengan pekerja asing yang dibayar dengan gaji lebih rendah yang tidak mencukupi untuk membiayai kehidupan harian pekerja tempatan. 1.5 juta pekerja Bangladesh akan menguntungkan segelintir orang yang diberikan lesen membawa mereka masuk ke negara.

PRM tolak  pengambilan masuk buruh asing . Untuk menangani masalah ekonomi kita, dan fenomena keengganan pemuda-pemudi bekerja di bidang yang kotor seperti yang dikatakan menteri,  menaikkan gaji pekerja , merangsang pengusaha beralih ke teknologi intensif , menghapuskan kegiatan ekonomi rent-seeking, dan menutup ketirisan dan keborosan perbelanjaan kerajaan,  merupakan jalan yang benar untuk menyelesaikan kebergantungan  serta terus-menerus haus pada pekerja asing.  Pendekatan ini  dapat meningkatkan taraf hidup rakyat dan kebajikannya.

Jika tidak berbuat demikian, rakyat negara kita kurang baiknya nasib, dan perlu ketatkan tali pinggang untuk hadapi masa depan yang  muram, atau rakyat perlu berikhtiar mengubahkan keadaan yang menekan dan menindas.

Koh swe Yong

Setiausaha Agung

012-2766551

PRM & 100 groups:- Employers should pay the Levy – Not Migrant Workers Immoral for Malaysia to take from Workers to overcome national economic problems

Joint Statement – 12/2/2016

Employers should pay the Levy – Not Migrant Workers

Immoral for Malaysia to take from Workers to overcome national economic problems

We the 101 undersigned civil society organisations, trade unions and groups are shocked by the news that the Malaysian government is increasing the migrant worker (foreign worker) levy to more than double the current rate, which since January 2013, had to be paid by the migrant workers themselves.  Prior to that, it was paid by the employer of migrant workers, whereby the introduction of the levy then was to deter employers employing migrant workers, rather than local Malaysian workers. This was also stated by the then Malaysian Labour Director-General Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim who was quoted saying that, “…The rationale behind getting employers to bear the levy was to discourage them from employing foreigners…”  [Star, 16/4/2009]

Migrant Worker Levy Rates Drastically Increased as of 1/2/2016

The Malaysian government recently announced that, as of 1/2/2016, annual levy payable for each migrant worker is increased to RM2,500 (manufacturing, construction and service sectors) and RM1,500 (plantation and agriculture). Before this, the annual levy payable for a Migrant Worker in the Manufacturing sector (RM1,250), Construction sector (RM 1,250), Plantation sector (RM590), Agricultural sector (RM410) and Services sector (RM1,250 – RM1,850) which was so much lower.

This new rates in comparison greatly burden the migrant worker in that the annual levy payable per migrant worker will now be doubled, or even tripled. 

For example, a migrant worker in an electronic factory, classified under the manufacturing sector, who paid a levy of RM1,250 before, will now have to pay double, RM2,500. A worker earning a monthly minimum wage of RM900, which is the wage many migrants are paid, will now have to pay more than RM200 for levy, leaving them with only less than RM700 as their monthly wage, not taking into account all other wage deductions. This is most unjust.

It is unconscionable for the Malaysian government to target migrant workers in the hope of making extra income of RM2.5 billion for the country from the 2.1 million documented migrant workers in Malaysia to rescue Malaysia from its current financial woes.

Easily Exploited With Almost No Access to Justice Makes Migrant Workers Vulnerable to Employers

When Malaysia, introduced Minimum Wage, employers and employer groups complained that their labour cost had gone up, and they could not afford it. In response, the Malaysian government decided that employers no longer need to pay the migrant worker levy, thus the obligation to pay the levy fell on migrant workers themselves.

Contract substitution remains a problem. Migrant workers agree to come to work in Malaysia, but when they start working, the migrant workers complain that they are now paid lower than what they had agreed to in their country of origin with the employer and/or his agent. Many employers have also used the Minimum Wage of RM900, as the standard wages they pay migrant workers. 

Because of the debt incurred by migrant workers in coming to Malaysia to work, which is about RM5,000 and the practice of employers and/or agents holding on to their passports and work permits, migrant workers find themselves in a form of bonded labour, and not able to do anything else but just survive. 

With the very low wages, they receive; many are forced into doing overtime sometimes 4 hours per day, working on rest days and even public holidays to make ends meet. Malaysian law stipulates a draconian overtime limit of 104 hours every month. This means, in effect migrant workers can be forced to work for 12 hours a day because in many workplaces doing overtime is no longer an option that workers can refuse. As such, migrant workers and even local workers can be considered to be engaged in some form of ‘forced labour’.

For migrant workers, access to justice remains a myth for many. When they complain about rights violations, what happens in many cases is that they are terminated, and their permit to work and/or remain in Malaysia is also terminated. This causes migrant workers to be easily controlled and exploited cheaply. They do not even have the option to claim justice.

Employers Contribute Less to Migrant Workers Income

Under the Malaysian law, employers are required to contribute 13% of the monthly income, inclusive of overtime earnings, to the Employees Provident Fund, this requirement is not applicable to the migrant workers. This makes migrant workers cheaper.

Further, since many employers do not take in migrant workers directly as their own employees, but take and use them as workers who are supplied by the labour suppliers - legally known as the contractors for labour - it effectively prevents these supplied migrant workers the right to join in-house trade unions. Even if they do join national/regional unions, they simply will not be able to enjoy the extra rights and benefits that come by reason of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between Union and Employer, simply by reason that they are not recognised as employees. Calls for the abolition of the ‘contractor for labour system’ by trade unions and civil society have gone unheeded by the government. 

Malaysia recognizes that households earning less than RM4,000 a month requires financial assistance, and local workers do get a small assistance from the government through the BR1M program – but migrant workers are excluded from this benefit.

Weakening Ringgit Causes Migrants to earn 20-40% less.

Whilst, the financial problems Malaysia is facing, coupled with the increased cost of living - new taxes, increased transportation costs, and the weakening of the Malaysian Ringgit in relation to currency of the country of origins of migrants – it is the migrant worker who suffers the most. 

The weakening ringgit also means that the money migrant workers send back home to their families is now much less and this has a serious impact on their families/dependents and the ability to settle their debts back home. It was recently reported, that "For instance, employees from Bangladesh used to make 44 taka for every RM1, but now it is about 17 taka. The drop is very drastic, more than 40%."Even the ringgit to the Indonesian rupiah has seen a drop in value by 20%," (Malaysian Insider, 5/2/2016)

Unjust to impose New Financial Obligations On Migrant Workers Already In Malaysia

It is totally unjust for Malaysia to impose new financial obligations by law on migrant workers, which did not exist when they agreed with their employers to come and work in Malaysia for 3-5 years. Any new obligations especially of payment by migrant workers should only apply to new migrant workers who have yet to agree to come to Malaysia to work – certainly not to those who are already here and working.

The Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC) and employer groups have been informed that employers will now have to  pay migrant worker levy. This was also mentioned in a media report, which stated, ‘The FMM[Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers] said the government recently informed employers that the levy burden would be shifted back to them. (Star, 2/2/2016).

However, employer groups have started a campaign lobbying the Malaysian government to re-consider, and the Malaysian government has been reported as saying that they may re-consider. There is concern that this re-consideration may not just be about the amount of levy payable, but also the question as to who will have to pay the levy – migrant workers or their employer?

Therefore, we the undersigned

Call on the Malaysian government in the name of justice, to ensure that it must be the employers of migrant workers that should be paying this Migrant Worker levy – not the migrant workers;

Call on the Malaysian government to also reconsider the increase of the levy rate, at this time whilst Malaysia, and especially small Malaysian businesses, are affected by the economic crisis and the effect of the falling Malaysian ringgit.

Call on the Malaysian government to increase the Minimum Wage of all workers in Malaysia to RM1,200 – RM1,500, to compensate for the increased cost of living in Malaysia, and the falling value of the Malaysian ringgit with  reference to the currency in migrant worker’s countries of origin. 

Call on the Malaysian government to abolish the ‘contractor for labour’ system, and ensure that all workers that are working in a workplace are all recognised employees of the said workplace, and are treated equally as workers.

Charles Hector

Mohd Roszeli bin Majid

Pranom Somwong

For and on behalf of the 101 organisations, trade unions and groups listed below 

ALIRAN

Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma)

Asia Monitor Resource Centre(AMRC)

Asia Floor Wage Alliance

Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development (APWLD)

Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters- Myanmar

Asociación de trabajadoras del Hogar a Domicilio y de Maquila, ATRAHDOM, Guatemala, Centro Amercia. 

Bangladesh Groep Nederland (Bangladesh Group The Netherlands)

Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies- BILS

BLAST,  Bangladesh

Boat People SOS (BPSOS)

Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) Asia Pacific Region

Campagna Abiti Puliti – Italy

CARAM Asia

Clean Clothes Campaign International Office(CCC)

Club Employees Union Peninsular Malaysia(CEUPM)

Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA)

Crispin B. Beltran Resource Center (CBBRC),Philippines

CWI Malaysia (Committee for Workers International)

Defend Job Philippines

Fair – Italy

FAIR ACTION, Sweden

Foundation For Women, Thailand 

Garment and Allied Workers Union, India

German Clean Clothes Campaign

Homeworkers Worldwide, United Kingdom

IDEAL (Institute for Development of Alternative Living）

IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC)

Institut Rakyat

International Labor Rights Forum

Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)

Jatio Shromik Federation (JSF), Bangladesh

Karmojibi Nari (KN), Bangladesh

Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Perodua

Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan, Semenanjung Malaysia (KSIEWSSM)

Knowledge and Rights with Young people through Safer Spaces (KRYSS)

Labour Behind the Label

Labour Studies and Action Centre (CEREAL), Mexico

Legal support for Children and Women (LSCW), Cambodia

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Malaysian Election Observers Network

Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC)

MAP Foundation (Thailand)

MHS Aviation Employees Union

Migrante International

Mission for Migrant Workers

Myanmar Migrants Rights Centre

NAMM (Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia)

National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), Bangladesh

National Union Employees in Companies Manufacturing Rubber Products (NUECMRP)

National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAW), Malaysia

NLD LA Malaysia

North South Initiative

Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute(OHMSI)

Panggau Sarawak

Paper Products Manufacturing Employees’ Union of Malaysia (PPMEU)

Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

Pax Romana ICMICA

Peoples Service Organisation (PSO)

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)

Pertubuhan Angkatan Bahaman, Temerloh, Pahang, Malaysia

PROHAM -Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia

Radanar Ayar Rural Development Association, Myanmar

Repórter Brasil

Safety and Rights Society, Bangladesh

Sahabat Rakyat

Schone Kleren Campagne (CCC Netherlands)

SEA Women's Caucus on ASEAN

Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW), Philippines

Sramik Nirapotta Forum, Bangladesh

SUARAM

Tenaga National Berhad Junior Officers Union (TNBJOU)

TENAGANITA Women’s Force, Malaysia

Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia

The Collectif Ethique sur létiquette, Clean Clothes Campaign French

Think Centre, Singapore

UNI Global Union

War on Want

WARBE Development Foundation, Bangladesh

WH4C (Workers Hub For Change)

Women Peace Network-Arakan, Myanmar

Women Rehabilitation Center (WOREC), Nepal

Workers Assistance Center, Inc (WAC) , Philippines

Vietnamese Women for Human Rights

Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association-YCOWA

Yayasan Lintas Nusa, Indonesia

IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh

International Trade Union Confederation(ITUC)

Women's Aid Organisation(WAO), Malaysia

PINAY (The Filipino Women's Organization in Quebec), Canada

Cividep India

Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Utara Semenanjung Malaysia

Centro Nuovo Modello di Sviluppo – Italy

National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM)

Pusat KOMAS

Perak Women for Women Society (PWW)

Asian Migrant Centre

Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)-Cambodia

Labour Education and Service Network

Mekong Migration Network(MMN)

Media coverage:- 

Employers should pay foreign worker levy, say civil society groups (Malaysian Insider)

'IMMORAL' MALAYSIA GETS A TICKING OFF: Bosses should pay the levy – NOT the migrant workers (Malaysia Chronicle, 13/2/2016))

Employers should pay the levy, not migrant workers (Malaysiakini, 12/2/2016)

 

The said Joint Statement was send to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Minister of Human Resources, Minister of Home Affair (who is in charge of the Immigration Department), Opposition Leader in Parliament and SUHAKAM(Malaysia's Human Rights Commission). The emailed copy can be seen at ...

101 Groups Letter to PM Najib - Employers should pay the Levy – Not Migrant Workers , Immoral for Malaysia to take from Workers to overcome national economic problems

 

Chan Ping Quan, bekas tahanan ISA, meninggal dunia

我们失去一位终身为反殖，争取独立、社会正义、平等，为人民社区谋福利战士。陈炳权为前马来亚劳工党干部，60年代增任民选增江市议员，在内安法令下被扣留。劳工党被当局解散后，从扣留营释放后，积极从事社会、社区、华文教育工作。

We lost a dedicated lofe-long fighter who devotes his whole life fighting against colonialism, works for social justice and equality, serves people and community. Chan Ping Quan is a cadre of Labour Party of Malaya, an elected Jinjiang Local Councillor in 1960s, and an ISA detainee. After Labour Party of Malaya is dissolved by BN government and following his release from Batu Gajah Detention Camp, Chan continues actively in social, community and Chinese Education works.

马来西亚人民党反对签署跨太平洋伙伴协议(TPPA)

致新闻采访主任:

文告: 27/1/2016

马来西亚人民党反对签署跨太平洋伙伴协议(TPPA)

马来西亚人民党总秘书辜瑞荣今天发表文告，马来西亚人民党坚决反对跨太平洋伙伴协议。

辜瑞荣文告指出，TPPA于2005年由美国总统布斯开始推动，在约500位全世界最大的跨国公司“顾问”黑箱神秘草拟和谈判下进行。

人民党从各方对协议的好处和坏处分析，认为协议对某方面有益，明显的对更多方面带来坏处。

据一位增经任美国克林顿总统劳工部长的美国经济政治学教授批评，在协议的29章节里，只有5个章节触及贸易事项，其他章节关于限制签署国，降低环境素质，降低食物和个人安全水平，不然涉及金融、能源、气候、劳工等的政策和条规。TPPA给与跨国公司新的和更大的权力。这些跨国公司控制这世界上的资源，赋予他们权力来决定我们生存。

人民党反对TPPA,也因为协议有关解决国家和外国公司之间的投资纷争机制(‘Investor State Dispute Settlement’ (ISDS))，赋予外国公司投资和盈利，新的赔偿法律以及扩大的和特别保护，且冲裁法庭设在国外，不是由马来西亚的法庭审判。有关外国公司可以挑战马来西亚政府为了保护国人健康和福利及环境的新政策和法律条规，如果他们认为该政策和法律侵蚀他们公司的营业利润。

另一方面，上述权利只限外国公司拥有，马来西亚公司和人民不能享有这个权利。这是明显歧视协议。马来西亚公司和人民只能在马来西亚法庭挑战马来西亚政府。这是不公正的。外国公司寻求赔偿也必须在马来西亚法庭进行，而不是在国外的冲裁庭。

在这条文下，马来西亚政府可以被起诉，是不能被接受的。我们将看到巨大冲击，而马来西亚政府到时要赔偿千万亿万令吉，也将使到我国政府害怕，不敢制定有利人民福利的新政策和法律。

一些已签署含有上述条文的自由贸易协定国家正面对这样的诉讼。埃及、加拿大、澳洲、美国、阿根廷、萨尔瓦多和委地马拉等政府因香烟、农业种子基因、石岩天然气和汽油开采政策，影响外国公司的投资利润，被要求数以千万亿万计赔偿。这已不是学术性或假设性的问题，而是真正已经发生的事情。

马来西亚这之前已经跟一些国家签署了自由贸易协议，也必须遵守。许多专家指出，TPPA将危害到国家和人民的消费、健康和医药、教育、生活权利、工人权利、保护环境政策权利、享有居住、食物、水和产品安全权利、知识产权、弱势和少数群体和少数族群权利如儿童和原住民。

马来西亚人民党认为，马来西亚政府必须以照顾多元民族多元宗教的国人和马来西亚本土公司利益为先，而不是外国跨国财团，某些国内公司或者某个阶层如官营和关联公司，或朋党公司。人民党因此反对TPPA.

马来西亚人民党总秘书

辜瑞荣

012-2766551

Lihat Kenyataan Penuh:- 

PRM Menolak TPPA

PRM Menolak TPPA

Kenyataan Media – 27/1/2016

PRM Menolak TPPA

Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)  dengan  tegasnya   menolak TPPA.

TPPA mula  dirangka dan dirunding dalam kotak hitam oleh 500 “penasihat” syarikat   multinasional terbesar dunia pada 2005 di bawah inisiatif pentadbiran  Presiden Bush.

PRM telah mengambil kira teks Perjanjian, dan  hujahan mengenai kebaikan TPPA dan  keburukan TPPA. Walaupun ada perkara yang mungkin baik bagi sesetengah pihak, nyata juga terkandung banyak aspek yang akan membawa kesan negative kepada banyak pihak lain.

Menurut seorang professor  political economist Amerika yang pernah menjadi Menteri Buruh di bawah pentadbiran Presiden Bill Clinton Robert Reich, antara 29 bab TPPA, hanya 5 bab menyentuh perdagangan, selebihnya meletak had-had (restrictions) pada kerajaan anggota TPPA, menyusutkan kualiti persekitaran, merendahkan standard keselamatan makanan dan orang-perseorangan atau berkenaan polisi dan peraturan kewangan, tenaga, cuaca dan sebagainya. Dengan TPPA, kuasa baru akan diberikan dan dipertingkatkan kepada syarikat multinasional yang kawal semua sumber di dunia.

Justeru, demi menerima apa yang baik, PRM tidak boleh bersetuju kepada perkara yang tidak baik yang akan memberikan implikasi buruk kepada rakyat Malaysia keseluruhannya pada masa akan datang. Oleh sebab itu, PRM menolak TPPA.

TPPA ada  peruntukan mengenai pelaburan dan mekanisme penguatkuasaannya, iaitu klausa Penyelesaian Pertikaian Pelabur-Negara (‘Investor State Dispute Settlement’ (ISDS)).

Klausa ini memberikan pelabur asing di Malaysia satu kaedah tuntutan gantirugi undang-undang yang baru, dan  hak perlindungan luar biasa dan tambahan berkenaan pelaburan dan keuntungan mereka iaitu satu  tribunal yang akan mendengar tuntutan mereka. Tribunal ini bukan di Malaysia tetapi di luar negara. Mereka boleh mencabar polisi dan undang-undang baru Malaysia yang dilaksanakan untuk melindungi kesihatan dan kebajikan rakyat dan alam sekitar yang  akan  menyekat  keuntungan mereka.

Hak  untuk ambil tindakan terhadap kerajaan Malaysia di tribunal luar negara ini tidak  diberikan kepada pelabur, syarikat dan perniagaan milik rakyat Malaysia. Ini adalah diskriminasi terhadap rakyat Malaysia yang hanya boleh ambil tindakan di Mahkamah  Malaysia terhadap kerajaan Malaysia. Ini tidak adil. Apa-apa tuntutan terhadap kerajaan Malaysia oleh syarikat asing harus di buat  Mahkamah Malaysia.

Oemberiah hak ini kepada pelabur asing serta risiko bahawa Malaysia  akan disaman di tribunal luar negara jika Malaysia melalui undang-undang atau polisi melindungi  rakyat  dan pekerja tidak boleh diterima langsung. PRM, setelah melihat impak peruntukan ISDS yang terkandung dalam perjanjian lain yang telah dikuatkuasakan yang  akan menyebabkan negara takut membawa polisi dan undang-undang baru  menjaga kebajikan rakyat dan negara.

Contohnya, jika Malaysia cuba menaikkan gaji minima pekerja selepas menandatangani TPPA,  Malaysia boleh disaman berjuta-juta atau berbillion ringgit oleh syarikat asing kerana menghakis keuntungsn mereka. 

Risiko klausa ISDS bukan lagi teori atau kemungkinan sahaja, kerana sudahpun berlaku di negara Mesir yang disaman syarikat Peranchis berasaskan  klausa ISDS. Kerajaan  Kanada , Amerika Syarikat, Argentina, Australia, El Salvador  atau Guatemala disaman oleh syarikat multinasional kerana melaksanakan undang-undang atau polisi yang dikatakan menghakis  keuntungannya.

Perjanjian TPPA dikatakan akan menyebabkan barangan, produk dan perkhidmatan luar negara lebih mudah masuk ke dalam pasaran Malaysia, lalu membawa kesan positif, dan mungkin rakyat akan dapat lebih akses kepada  lebih banyak pilihan dan juga lebih murah. Menurut laporan berita,  sebanyak 30% peniaga dan syarikat Malaysia terpaksa tutup kedai. Petani juga akan terjejas sekiranya hasil tanaman mereka tidak dapat bersaing  dengan produk sama yang datang dari luar negara. Justeru, TPPA harus ditolak demi kepentingan rakyat Malaysia.

PRM mahu rakyat Malaysia diutamakan dalam  perniagaan, bukan sekadar  menjadi pekerja, ataupun hanya menjalankan perniagaan francais,  dan sebenarnya syarikat memberikan francais mmilikan luar negara. KFC dan 7 Eleven  adalah contoh syarikat Amerika Syarikat.

Pelabur atau syarikat asing  biasanya hanya mencari keuntungan dan tidak tetap di Malaysia. Justeru, ini memberikan impak serius kepada pekerja yang tidak ada mempunyai jaminan kerja dan pendapatan, serta juga syarikat tempatan yang memberikan khidmat kepada syarikat asing ini kerana bila-bila sahaja mereka boleh berpindah ke negara lain..

PRM juga ingin menyatakan bahawa perjanjian yang telah ditandatangani  kerajaan BN Malaysia sudah memberikan kesan negative. Kini perniagaan asing boleh membawa masuk semua pekerja utama mereka dari luar. Ini bermakna tiada pemindahan  teknologi dan kemahiran kepada rakyat Malaysia.

Perjanjian dahulu juga sudah menamatkan kewajiban bagi pelabur asing  gunakan peratusan tertentu ‘bahan tempatan atau local content’. Kini  kesan TPPA akan lebih teruk daripada kesan perjanjian yang ditandatangani kerajaan BN Malaysia.

Banyak pakar juga telah meluahkan kebimbangan akan kesan kemudaratan TPPA terhadap hak kesihatan dan hak kehidupan pengguna, terutamanya  kesusahan akses kepada ubat-ubatan  pada kadar yang munasabah atau produk yang selamat; hak bekerja dan hak di tempat kerja; hak untuk menikmati taraf hidup yang memadai, termasuk akses kepada tempat tinggal, makanan dan air yang selamat; hak terhadap harta intelek; hak kumpulan minoriti tertentu dan kewajipan negara untuk melindungi mereka contohnya kanak-kanak, terutamanya yang miskin, dan juga Orang Asli.

PRM juga ingin menyatakan bahawa kerajaan Malaysia dalam hal perkara TPPA harus menjaga kepentingan semua rakyat Malaysia, bukan hanya kepentingan syarikat dan golongan tertentu sahaja seperti syarikat milik kerajaan dan GLC. Adalah kewajiban kerajaan negara menjaga kepentingan dan kebajikan rakyat dan syarikat Malaysia yang berbilang bangsa dan agama.

Justeru, setelah PRM tetap dengan pendirian membantah Malaysia menandatangani TPPA, dan seterusnya meratifikasi TPPA.

Koh Swe Yong

Setiausaha Agung PRM

012-2766551