Original Sabahan News

The Sabah Sarawak Rights in Australia and New Zealand (SSRANZ) has expressed full support for the call by the Victorian Farmers Federation horticulture group (VFF) for an amnesty to allow foreign workers without a permit to be protected and to address a worker shortage on farms.

SSRANZ President Robert Pei congratulated the VFF horticulture group’s president Emma Germano on her organization’s enlightened proposal and welcomed such a humanitarian solution.

He said one of SSRANZ’s founding objectives was to seek such a solution for many Sabahans and Sarawakians from East Malaysia (on Borneo Island) living and working in Australia without work permits. According to his organization’s research the number of Sabahans and Sarawakians was estimated at around 2,000 people who are working in mainly low paid farm and labouring jobs. Many of them cannot even speak English or just have a poor command of the language.

These people are working for pay which is well below the Australian national minimum wage level such as for less than AUD15.00 an hour. At the same time they are being exploited by unscrupulous middle men or recruiting agents who take a percentage of their pay as commission for assisting in seeking employment for them. 

The workers have come to Australia to escape poverty and mass unemployment arising from lack of any meaningful economic development in their home states. Sabah and Sarawak have remained economically backward territories since the former British colonial government transferred its sovereignty over these colonies to the Malayan Federation then renamed “Malaysia” under the Malaysia Agreement Treaty (MA63) in 1963.

BACKGROUND: The unemployment situation is a consequence of discriminatory official policy which violated Sabah Sarawak rights guaranteed by the MA63 Treaty. In 1969 the Malaysian Federal Government extended its jurisdiction over Sabah and Sarawak’s continental shelf and their oil & gas resources and consolidated its control by passing the Petroleum Development Act (PDA 1974). In 1976 both states had to formally surrender control of all their oilfields in their territorial seas boundary. These acts were illegal and unconstitutional as they were not a negotiated term of the Malaysia Agreement. The Federal seizure and exploitation of their wealth was implemented under the race religion based discriminatory New Economic Policy from 1970. This led to a “lopsided development” whereby Sabah and Sarawak oil and gas wealth have been channelled to reinforce the economic and political position of the dominant race by focusing development on the peninsula states. The 2 Borneo states were neglected with further marginalization of Sabah and Sarawak people as most jobs were given to Malayans. Many rural areas remain in shocking poverty deprived of basic facilities such as piped drinking water and electricity now taken for granted in the peninsula. It is not surprising that they have become the most impoverished parts of Malaysia. 

Many people have come to see the federal relationship as foreign, exploitative and colonial in character filled with “failed promises and shattered dreams of prosperity and development”. An example of failed development is the Borneo Highway (from Sarawak to Sabah) a Federal project for the 1500 km trunk road launched in 1966 “to accelerate economic development”, has taken over 50 years and still not completed. In the meantime the Malayan peninsula communications was vastly advanced by the construction of one of the best “road systems in Asia”. He said the “lop-sided development” also saw the massive development of a one-crop oil palm colonialist plantation economy in the 2 states. He said local people were discouraged from working in this economic sector because these mainly foreign Malayan owned plantations paid exploitative low wages with very poor working conditions. Thus the locals have been largely replaced by illegal or foreign contract workers in both the territories.

The general local mass unemployment in most areas led to thousands of young people leaving their home states to seek jobs in the Malayan peninsula, Singapore and elsewhere especially in Australia. He said the Malaysian Federal Government could slow down the exodus of local workers overseas if it would just raised the pitifully low wages and working conditions in Sabah and Sarawak to at least match the peninsula level or surpass that, because unfair Federal taxes on the 2 territories have added to the high cost of living there. The Federal Government should also ensure that local and foreign companies passed on to the people part of the huge profits they make from exploiting expropriated Sabah Sarawak land and resources. 

SSRANZ President said Australia is an attraction as even the low pay for one day is more than what a labourer would earn in a week at home. The minimum wage in Sabah and Sarawak is RM920 (Malaysian ringgit) about AUD250 per month in contrast with the peninsula workers who get RM1000 ringgit a month. In Australia they would probably be getting AUD2500 a month which is about RM8500 ringgit representing a small fortune for many. This is why many are prepared to endure comparative poor wages in Australia as it was still better than not working at home. 

In addressing the issue of Sabahan and Sarawakian workers in Australia Robert said his organization would welcome the opportunity to work with the VFF and any other interest groups to seek an amnesty to assist these desperate people. If the Australian federal government would grant a general amnesty for these people it would also be a humanitarian gesture and be likened to a form of reversed economic aid to the developing nations while Australia would benefit from the foreign input to ease the labour shortage in the local economy.

SSRANZ is working on presenting a submission to the Australian Federation Government on this issue.

Source: SSRANZ

The Weekly Times revealed last week the Victorian Farmers Federation horticulture group is calling for an amnesty to allow workers without a permit to be protected and to address a worker shortage on farms.

Australian Workers’ Union Victorian secretary Ben Davis said the proposal had “some merit”.

“It’s a long time since the AWU has agreed with the VFF,” Mr Davis said.

“I like the idea of self-­disclosure in the short term … and would support an amnesty that protected workers.”

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VFF horticulture president Emma Germano proposed extending working visas for workers who came forward during the amnesty by up to three years.

But Mr Davis believed 12 months “is more appropriate,” and called for whistleblower protection for any workers who could provide information about illegal labour-hire contractors.

“Exploitation is far more widespread than we thought and a culture of silence and the culture of fear that goes with it is the problem,” Mr Davis said.

The Uniting Church’s ­social justice spokesman, Mark Zirnsak, agreed permanent whistleblower protection was required to address underlying problems with worker exploitation.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Mr Zirnsak said of the amnesty.

The National Union of Workers said many farmers wanted a “meaningful solution for undocumented workers” and it welcomed an amnesty designed to protect workers.

“The NUW supports the idea of an amnesty for the thousands of undocumented workers trapped in exploitative work arrangements in the fresh food farms that supply our major supermarkets,” NUW national president Caterina Cinanni said.

“As it stands, there are 1.2 million temporary migrant workers with work rights and thousands of others with no work rights doing the hardest jobs in this country for the smallest reward.”

Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford commended farmers for raising the proposal.

“I welcome the acknowledgment by the VFF that there is a problem with the exploitation of vulnerable workers in the sector,” Ms Pulford said.

“A short-term amnesty sounds like a good idea, but there really needs to be a pathway to citizenship to give workers and farmers the certainty and security they deserve.”

A Federal Government spokeswoman said it was aware of the challenges farmers faced attracting workers and it took exploitation of workers seriously, having established a taskforce to target exploitation of foreign workers.

Source: The Weekly Times

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president. Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee, has reiterated that peninsula-based parties wanting to contest in Sabah Would be contrary to their vow of ensuring Sabah’s autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“The basic principle is that Malaya parties contest in Malaya; Sabah parties contest in Sabah. This is the principle of MA63 which the Malaya-based parties now say they will respect. But Malaya-based parties want to contest in Sabah, which would be contrary to their vow of ensuring Sabah’s autonomy under MA63.

“So, if Malaya-based parties want to contest in Sabah, they should authorize their leaders to start discussion with Sabah parties.” he said when asked to comment on Sabah Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) acting chief cum Api-Api assemblywoman Christina Liew’s statement that there was room for negotiations to reach the target of a straight fight between BN and the opposition.

Meanwhile, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan Rakyat) president, Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin, has urged peninsula-based opposition parties to consider not contesting in Sabah in the 14th General Election (GE14). Lajim said peninsula-based opposition parties should instead work with their local-based counterparts and give the latter their support in the election.

During the SAPP congress in October, Yong had said that peninsula-based opposition parties should recognize that Sabah already has strong local opposition parties, namely, SAPP, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) under the United Sabah Alliance (USA), Parti Warisan Sabah and now Harapan Rakyat. Yong had said that Malaya-based parties should respect their local opposition counterparts in Sabah and not contest in the State in compliance with MA63. On another note, Yong said that discussions between USA and Harapan Rakyat was ongoing.

Source: Sabah Intrigue

If you chose no. 1

Unfortunately, you are someone who gives up often. You have an opinion that you just can’t influence the situation, so that’s why you tend to accept the terms given to you. You usually never argue and speaking in general, you prefer to behave very quiet and peaceful, because of any kind of a hassle, arguing and scandals make you feel sad. You have a kind heart and you are an honest person.

If you chose no. 2

You are the kind of person which tends to make hurried decisions. You usually do not give yourself enough time to analyze the whole situation, so you are making mistakes that could be previously avoided. Also, many people find you stubborn person.

If you chose no. 3

You are a kind of person who always goes till the end. You hardly give up and you fight for your rights to the last moment in almost every situation. You have the ability to become an excellent businessman, as thinking over different strategies is one of your main hobbies! You could definitely make a big success in this field.

If you chose no. 4

You are a real rebel in life! In some situations, you are capable to fight even against yourself, just to prove something. But, all those “little games” make you stop thinking rationally, though. One thing is sure, you are a born revolutionary.

Image source: interesting-facts.info

Saban hari kita sering mendengar keluhan masyarakat di sekeliling mengenai kos sarah hidup yang semakin hari semakin meningkat. Melalui kehidupan seharian kita sendiri, kita juga merasakan bebanan itu. Bukan sahaja mereka yang tinggal di bandar merasakan bebanan ini, malah mereka yang tinggal di luar bandar khususnya mereka yang tinggal di pedalaman turut mendapat tempias.

Hari ini saya bertanya kepada seorang rakan, sudahkah dia menjalankan tanggungjawab sebagai seorang rakyat yang menentukan masa depan Negara? (sudah daftar untuk mengundi atau belum) Saya diajukan jawaban, “malaslah..saya tak suka campur hal politik”.

Jika 90% generasi muda yang mempunyai cara pemikiran yang sedemikian, apakah yang akan terjadi dengan Negara kita?? Setiap hari, bukan sahaja mereka yang diperingkat berumuran mengeluh dengan cara pemimpin memimpin Negara kita, malah generasi muda juga sudah mulai mengeluh malah sesetengah daripada mereka sudah mulai berani untuk memberontak. Salahkah kita apabila kita memberontak?? Pemberontakan tidak akan terjadi jikalau pemimpin mendengar keluhan rakyat. Pemborantakan tidak akan terjadi jika pemimpin mengetahui dan memahami apa yang diperlukan dan diinginkan oleh rakyat. 

Apabila seseorang pemimpin itu membawa beban kepada rakyat, masih layakkah beliau menjadi seorang pemimpin? Masihkah rakyat memerlukan pemimpin seperti itu? Pemimpin itu adalah seorang yang membawa kita keluar daripada tanah yang kering. Pemimpin itu adalah seorang yang membawa kita kepada padang rumput yang hijau! Bukan yang membawa kita kepada kehancuran, kebinasaan, kesengsaraan, kemiskinan dan penindasan. 

Kita yang hidup tanah Sabah ini merasakan beban itu. Tidak ada yang terkecuali selain daripada mereka yang kroupsi. Walaupun mempunyai pekerjaan sama ada dalam sektor kerajaan mahupun swasta, semuanya merasakan beban ini. Walau ada di kalangan kita ini adalah ahli perniagaan, mereka juga turut merasakan beban ini.

Kepada Gen-Y diluar sana, sanggupkah anda melihat derita dan beban yang ditanggung oleh Sabahan selama 54th bersama membentuk sebuah Persekutuan yang dikenali sebagai Persekutuan Malaysia ini?? kenapa saya tekankan ‘GEN-Y’ ? kerana Generasi muda inilah generasi yang akan memeggang tanah pusaka ini suatu hari nanti. Jika pemahaman politik ataupun kesedaran politik di kalangan generasi muda masa kini masih kurang, apa yang akan jadi pada tanah ini suatu hari nanti? Dengan sifat tidak ingin ambil tahu, apakah nasib tanah ini di masa akan datang? Masihkah ianya milik kita lagi ataupun bumi yang dipijak sudah menjadi milik orang lain?

Politik bukan urusanmu? Benarkah? Saya ingin bertanya, jika ianya bukan urusan kamu, urusan siapakah? Orang tua? Ibubapa? Orang lain? Rakan? Siapa? Jika kamu mengatakan ‘orang tua’, yang masih dalam golongan muda sekarang, tidakkah anda akan mennjadi tua di masa akan datang? Adakah anda menunggu hari tua anda baru anda mahu melibatkan diri? Anda tidak berminat dengan hal-hal yang mellibatkan politik? Tahukah anda, politik itu bermula daripada diri sendiri. Anda suka mahupun tidak, anda sudah berpolitik dengann diri sendiri! Jadi masihkah anda ingin mengatakan anda tidak suka akan hal-hal yang melibatkan politik?

Politik itu bermula daripada diri sendiri – keluarga – sekeliling – masyarakat dan seterusnya kesedaran yang membawa anda untuk mahu mengubahnya. Siapa yang mengubah? Saya? Kamu? Mereka? TIDAK! Kitalah yang akan mengubahnya.

Mahukah anda melihat tanah pusaka yang diturunkan oleh nenek moyangmu ini menjadi milik orang asing suatu hari nanti? 

Mahukan anda melihat anak cucu cicitmu mengemis ditanah pusakamu ini? 

Mahukah anda menjadi pelarian di tanah warisan turun temurun ini? 

Bayangkan raut wajah para pejuang yang sudah berhempas pulas mengorbankan masa dan wang ringgit bahkah mengorbankan nyawa hanya kerana ingin memberikan kita tanah yang bertuah ini. 

Hentikan keluhanmu. Sertailah perjuangan ini. Kelak anak cucu kita tidak akan rugi.

Salam sayang SABAH, Sabah for Sabahans,

Dari saya,

Ellshera Yap Len 

Sabahan Aktivis