30 March 2023
Topik Pada Hari Ini
> Thomas Jalong, bekas presiden JOAS – GPS sarawak tidak pernah memberikan laporan EIA dan menjalankan FPIC, yang bertentangan dengan piawaian antarabangsa
> Anyie Uleng, penduduk Penan dari Long Wat Tegulang, Murum – PMX, tolong orang Murum
> S.Arulchelvan, timbalan pengerusi PSM – kerajaan mesti mempunyai undang-undang untuk melindungi hak dan kepentingan pembantu rumah
> Jwin, petani dari Opar – kumpulan petani B40 juga memerlukan bantuan
On Today Show
> Thomas Jalong, ex-president of JOAS – GPS sarawak never provide EIA report and conduct FPIC, which is against international standards
> Anyie Uleng, Penan resident from Long Wat Tegulang, Murum – PMX, please help the Murum people
> S.Arulchelvan, PSM deputy chairperson – government must have a law to protect the rights and interests of domestic workers
> Jwin, farmer from Opar – B40 groups of farmers need helps too
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Thomas Jalong, ex-president of JOAS
*GPS sarawak never provide EIA report and conduct FPIC, which is against international standards*
Logging activities in Ulu Baram will have devastating environmental consequences and severely impact the surrounding indigenous communities, say 47 organisations through a joint statement initiated by Biodiversity, Agroecology, Climate Change and Habitat (B.E.A.CC.H) and the CSO Platform for Reform Sarawak.Thomas Jalong said that, currently an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is not mandatory for clearing virgin forests in Sarawak and is only necessary for re-entry. The requirement and process for an EIA report should be standardised for all logging activities in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, with mandatory public participation as is the norm in Peninsular Malaysia.
Thomas Jalong said that, Before logging, EIA report is a must. As early as the 1990s, they had asked the Sarawak State government to provide EIA report, especially which projects would be carried out in the interior baram, as well as those catchment areas and water source areas, or areas that would affect the natural environment. We can see with the naked eye that the river is no longer clear, but dirty.
In addition, the NGOs, activists and communities also require logging companies to have FPIC (Free, Prior and Informed Consent) , because the land involved includes the customary land of the indigenous people, or the range that affects the soil quality and rivers, and the range that will affect the nearby communities, all need to have FPIC. But none of them have do it
In the past, there were only two floods in a year, but now there are frequent floods, especially more than five floods last year. These are the problems that come with clearing forests, monocultures, riverside communities, frequent and severe flooding.
Neither the government nor the logging company considered the incident to be a "threat," he asked Is it a threat if it directly threatens human life? He said that people's lives are affected, livelihoods are affected, climate change. . . These are threats.
Thomas Jalong said that social responsibility is what every companies should have. He said that before any activity, there must be peaceful discussions, not an attitude of intimidation or disregard. This is the basic principle of protecting the rights and interests of indigenous peoples. It has been recognized internationally and also recognized by Malaysia.
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Anyie Uleng, Penan resident from Long Wat Tegulang, Murum
*PMX, please help the Murum people*
Anyie complained to the RFS regarding the problems faced by 3 Panjang houses in Tegulang. Long Wat Long House, Penan Long Malim and Long Malim Long House Kenyah. Residents in these 3 long houses send their children to SK Tegulang (temporary school/imperfect wooden building). But this morning there was a severe landslide, preventing travel. So, the children cannot go to school. The road to school is a red dirt road. The school does not have a dormitory and this makes it difficult for the Penan children here. Anyie emphasized that, the majority of Penan children want to go to school and want to live in the Hostel
Anyie appealed to PMX and YB Murum assemblyman to build paved roads, complete schools, clinics and give agricultural land for the Penan people to produce their own food. Another problem is the telephone line that is often disconnected. According to Anyie, the Shin Yang Logging and Plantation Company monopolizes the Murum Area. Last week the Penan protested against the Shin Yang company for planting paper wood too close to the Penan settlement. In fact, Shin Yang's company does not want to help the Penan people to repair damaged roads or bridges. The SEB company that made millions of ringgit as a result of the construction of the Murum dam, has now given up. Big companies profit, we Penan people remain poor - said Anyie Uleng. Anyie hopes that PMX will speed up basic facilities for the Penan people.
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S.Arulchelvan, PSM deputy chairperson
*government must have a law to protect the rights and interests of domestic workers*
Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar yesterday confirmed the latest five-year MOU did not make any reference to a minimum monthly wage - either set by Cambodia or based on Malaysia's current rate of RM1,500 as the minimum wage for all formal workers.
Arul agreed that what tenagaita mentioned - while Malaysia joined the list of many countries with labour laws that excluded domestic workers from being paid a minimum wage, such a provision should be included in bilateral agreements between governments.
Arul comment that, from a legal point of view, no matter whether you are a local or a foreigner, you must have a basic salary of 1,500 while in the country, without exception. However, domestic workers are not included in the list of employees, so the MOU must specify a minimum salary of 1,500, or Cambodia can ask for a minimum salary of more than 1,500, but it cannot be less than 1,500.
And this 1,500 is for 8 hours of work, not 1,500 ringgits for 15 hours.
There is also an MOU signed by the Philippines, which proposes a minimum salary higher than 1,500. Therefore, if Cambodia cares about the people, a basic minimum wage should be proposed to protect the rights and interests of the people.
Domestic workers are not slaves, they have their own time, so the working time and rest time need to be listed in the MOU.
He said that our government must have a law to protect the rights and interests of domestic workers, because the current labor laws cannot protect this group of workers.
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Jwin, farmer from Opar
*B40 groups of farmers need helps too*
Additional allocation of RM170 million Special Aidilfitri Assistance in Budget 2023, the raya aid is benefit to 850,000 rubber smallholders, paddy farmers and fishermen. ‘Raya Cheer’ was welcomed by the target groups across the country, including in Sarawak.
Jwin said that, that is a good news for the B40 group of farmers. He said that in the past, he had received little help. The small paddy field had to support the family, but it also had to ensure smooth production and maintain sales.
He hoped that the government would pay more attention to small-scale farmers, and provide technical support while giving subsidies, so that small-scale farmers can go more smoothly.