photo 3ec5abe8-497d-41af-a7dd-29050aea8f7e.jpg

“民间组织・议会斗争・民主人权”论坛 ——人民之友工委会12周年纪念

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

DRB HICOM MUST RESPECT THE CITIZENS' RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN MALAYSIA

DRB HICOM MUST RESPECT THE CITIZENS' RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN MALAYSIA
– Stop disciplinary action against workers for exercising their political rights.
25 June 2013

We, the undersigned 45 civil society organizations, trade unions and concerned groups, are appalled by the actions of two DRB Hicom companies based in Pekan, namely HICOM Automotive Manufacturers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and ISUZU HICOM Malaysia Sdn Bhd for taking disciplinary action against 18 workers who merely exercised their rights (outside working hours), as citizens, to participate in the democratic process.  Pursuant to a decision by the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC), which was also supported by the National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW),  to extract commitments on workers' rights from contesting candidates and political parties involved in GE13, workers throughout Malaysia, including in Pekan, met or attempted to meet  contesting candidates from all parties before election day, being on 5/5/2013.

Accordingly, on 3/5/2013, a group of 18 workers submitted the MTUC memorandum to one of the contesting candidates in the Pekan parliamentary constituency, which also happens to be the constituency that the Prime Minister of Malaysia was contesting.

On account of this act, disciplinary action has been initiated by 2  DRB HICOM companies based in Pekan against these 18 workers. 

First, HICOM Automotive Manufacturers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, which assembles automobiles for Suzuki, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, has issued show cause letters on  22/5/2013 to 16 workers, and speedily proceeded with the 'Domestic Inquiry' which began on 11/6/2013. At present the Domestic Inquiry is yet to end and there is no decision.

Second, ISUZU HICOM Malaysia Sdn Bhd, that assembles automobiles for Isuzu, also issued show cause letters to 2 workers. They, too, are awaiting the decision of the Domestic Inquiry. Significantly, the workers were NOT allowed the right to be represented by lawyers or representatives of the National Union, only by representatives from the work site committee. 

We consider the action taken by the two DRB Hicom companies not only a gross violation of worker rights. It is also a violation of the right of citizens to participate in the democratic process of Malaysia, especially during elections. No employer should have the right to dictate directly or indirectly the political choices, activities and/or actions of their workers, more so outside employment hours. Workers, as citizens, of Malaysia must have the freedom to join and participate in any political party of their choice, offer themselves as candidates if they so wish, and involve themselves in campaigning in general elections.

Hence DRB Hicom's taking disciplinary action against these 18 workers for exercising their rights as citizens in the run-up to GE13, is completely uncalled for. It is a gross violation of the rights of these 18 workers. Under the circumstances, we demand that DRB Hicom stop all disciplinary actions being taken against these 18 workers immediately. If any of these 18 workers have already been terminated,  they should be reinstated immediately.

We understand that the charges leveled against the workers are (1) undermining the image or good name of the company orally, in writing or by action, and (2) bringing about or trying to bring about any form of influence or outside pressure to submit or support any external claim that is related to service be it an individual claim or claims of other employees. 

We further understand that the employer DRB Hicom is trying to rationalise its action against the said 18 workers - in seeking a commitment on workers rights from the Pekan parliamentary candidate – by claiming that the workers might have given the 'false impression' that 'the company was involved in politics' which is contrary to the company's stance. 

We find such an explanation laughable! Indeed, it is hypocritical given the fact that during the electoral campaign period, on 25/4/2013, the company had encouraged workers to go and meet the Barisan Nasional Paliamentary candidate for Pekan, Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, also the incumbent Prime Minister. Indeed, workers were allowed to go for the meeting during working hours! This event was also highlighted in Najib’s 13th General Election Pekan Constituency candidate website (http://www.parlimenpekan.com/?p=840), and the posting was entitled ‘Dato’ Sri Najib Beramah Mesra Dengan Warga DRB-Hicom Pekan’(Dato’ Sri Najib Socialize with DRB-Hicom citizenry). Later that very day women workers were also allowed by the company to meet up with Najib’s wife.  

Companies and businesses should never terminate a worker for reasons other than matters that relate to work performance and/or their conduct as a worker save in very exceptional cases, for eg, like when a worker is convicted of a criminal offence. 

These 18 workers have families and children, and a termination would cause great hardship to their well-being and livelihood. Amongst the 18 are also trade union leaders, including also the current chairperson of MTUC Pahang Division. We hope that the termination of worker leaders does not occur and that the two DRB HICOM companies are not resorting to ‘union busting’.

We call on DRB Hicom, HICOM Automotive Manufacturers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and ISUZU HICOM Malaysia Sdn Bhd to immediately discontinue disciplinary action against the said 18 workers, and if any be already terminated to immediately reinstate them without loss of benefits.

We call on Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, being also the Member of Parliament for Pekan, to intervene and ensure that the rights of his constituents, as workers and as citizens, are not violated by employers. 

Endorsed By:
  1. ALIRAN
  2. Asia  Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
  3. Asian Migrant Centre (AMC)
  4. Association of Maybank Executives
  5. Building and Wood Workers International Asia Pacific
  6. Burma Campaign Malaysia
  7. Clean Clothes Campaign
  8. Community Action Network (CAN), Malaysia
  9. Dignity International
  10. Group of Concerned Citizens
  11. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
  12. Human Rights Ambassador for Salem News , UK
  13. Jawatankuasa Sahabat Rakyat (人民之友)
  14. Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Polyplastics Asia Pacific
  15. Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan Semenanjung Malaysia
  16. Kesatuan Pekerja Pekerja Kelab Semenanjung Malaysia
  17. Legal Aid Commission, Sri Lanka
  18. MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)
  19. Malaysians for Beng Hock
  20. Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility
  21. Migrante International
  22. Migrants Rights Council,India
  23. MTUC(Malaysian Trade Union Congress) Melaka
  24. MTUC(Malaysian Trade Union Congress) Pahang
  25. MTUC(Malaysian Trade Union Congress) Penang Division
  26. Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia(NAMM)
  27. NUBE (National Union of Banking Employees), Malaysia
  28. NUHBRW (National Union of Hotel, Bar and Restaurant Workers), Malaysia
  29. Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)
  30. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti, Selangor (EMPOWER)
  31. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
  32. Pusat KOMAS (KOMAS)
  33. Sarawak Dayak Iban Association
  34. SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia)
  35. Tenaganita, Malaysia
  36. Think Centre, Singapore
  37. Tenaga Nasional Berhad Junior Officers Union (TNBJOU), Malaysia
  38. WARBE Development Foundation-Bangladesh
  39. Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Malaysia
  40. Workers Assistance Center, Inc, Philippines
  41. Workers Hub For Change (WH4C)

  42. Additional Endorsements (Updated on 30 June 2013):
  43. NLD LA Malaysia
  44. Yayasan LINTAS NUSA - Batam Indonesia
  45. IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh
  46. WARBE Development Foundation-Bangladesh

Pengumuman / 启事 / Notification

Pertukaran alamat blog dan e-mel

Selamat sejahtera, Sahabat Rakyat Working Committee akan menggunakan alamat e-mail dan alamat laman web (Blog) yang baru seperti berikut bermula 1 Januari 2014:

Emel: sahabatrakyat.my@gmail.com
Blog: http://sahabatrakyatmy.blogspot.com

Sekian, terima kasih dan Selamat Tahun Baru!

*********************************************

更换部落格网址与电邮地址

本工委会由2014年1月1日起,开始全面使用以下新电邮地址及部落格:

电邮地址:
sahabatrakyat.my@gmail.com
部落格:http://sahabatrakyatmy.blogspot.com

谢谢关注。祝大家新年进步!

*********************************************

Change of blog and email addresses

Please be informed that Sahabat Rakyat Working Committee will be using the new email and blog addresses below commencing 1 Jan 2014:

Email:
sahabatrakyat.my@gmail.com
Blog: http://sahabatrakyatmy.blogspot.com

Wishing you a progressive new year!

通告

    欢迎热心人士下载印发、
资助印制大选告人民书
把国阵抛弃到历史的垃圾堆中去!

作为活跃于柔佛州的为民主人权和民族尊严而奋斗的两个组织——柔佛州人民之友工委会与柔州兴权会(HINDRAF JOHORE)针对第13届大选,在去年底联合发表了一篇主题为“打破巫统霸权,建立民主联合阵线;团结全州人民,实现三大迫切诉求”的《告柔佛州人民书》;我们毫不犹疑,也毫不含糊主张“把国阵抛弃到历史的垃圾堆中去”。

我们在去年底的几个大规模群众集会期间,将《告柔佛州人民书》的四种语文(巫、华、印、英)传单派发给群众。我们也想要到各地去分发这份传单又力所不逮,特在此提供四种语文的PDF版本,以便各方热心人士下载、印制成传单,分发给需要阅读它而又不懂上网的亲戚朋友和各界人士,帮助我们把传单传得更广。
……

点击此处以阅读全文

 

Malaysia Time (GMT+8)