For many of us Workers’ Day is just another public holiday. But for workers at the raw end of development, it is a day to reflect on their rights as workers and their collective strength.
Even as I write, workers are gathering in Dataran Merdeka to commemorate the occasion.
What do they want? This year their principal demand is No Goods and Services Tax. They point out that Najib’s New Economic Model recognises that the gap between the rich and the poor is wide, and the country needs to move away from a low-income model. If that’s the case, why are there plans to introduce a regressive tax like the GST which will burden the poor the most, they ask.
The full list of demands in the May Day declaration endorsed by dozens of Malaysian civil society groups:
1. RAKYAT MALAYSIA BANTAH CUKAI GST. CUKAI GST MEMISKINKAN RAKYAT!
Di samping itu, tuntutan-tuntutan lain kaum pekerja ialah:
2. Kekalkan Cukai Korporat di tahap 27 peratus. Pengurangan cukai ini akan menyebabkan pengalihan beban cukai kepada rakyat biasa melalui Cukai GST
3. Gubal Akta Gaji Minima untuk semua pekerja dan mansuhkan polisi gaji murah
4. Wujudkan Tabung Pembuangan Kerja Dengan Segera – Bantuan terus kepada pekerja yang kehilangan kerja. Kerajaan harus memperuntukkan RM0.5 billion untuk mulakan tabung ini dan gunakannya untuk membantu mereka yang dibuang sehingga dapat kerja.
5. Cuti Bersalin 90 hari untuk pekerja wanita.
6. Menandatangani Konvensyen ILO berkenaan Pekerja Rumah dan juga instrumen antarabangsa yang berkaitan dengan perlindungan dan kebajikan pekerja.
7. Pengisthiharan Kesatuan Sekerja secara automatik dan pemansuhan undang-undang yang mendiskriminasi pekerja dan sebarang undang-undang baru bermotif memudahkan pembuangan pekerja oleh majikan.
8. Pastikan tempat kerja bebas daripada diskriminasi terhadap pekerja wanita. Gubal undang-undang Anti Gangguan Seksual.
9. Hak saksama kepada pekerja migran dan pelarian dan perlindungan dari dianiyai oleh pihak Majikan, PDRM, RELA dan Imigresen.
10. Kementerian Kewangan harus mengadakan perbincangan dengan bank-bank untuk menangguhkan dan mengurangkan bayaran bulanan pinjaman perumahan warga pekerja berpendapatan rendah .
11. Sediakan atau Laksanakan Skim Perumahan Rakyat pada harga yang mampu dibeli/dimiliki, lokasi strategik dan selesa untuk golongan yang berpendapatan rendah.
12. Hentikan penswastaan perkhidmatan asas seperti air dan hospital dan hentikan Skim Pembayaran Penuh Pesakit (Full-Paying Patients) di hospital kerajaan dengan segera.
13. Laksanakan Polisi ekonomi yang tidak mengira kaum dan jantina tetapi berlandaskan keperluan. Menuntut suatu model pembangunan yang saksama, yang memberi kepentingan kepada rakyat setempat di mana segala rancangan pembangunan mestilah dibincang dan dipersetujui oleh semua.
14. Iktiraf Hak Tanah Adat Orang Asal di Malaysia dan berikan hak milik kekal serta kukuhkan status tanah Rizab Orang Asli di Malaysia. Rancangan pembangunan tanah Orang Asli hendaklah berasaskan kehendak, keperluan dan aspirasi Orang Asli.
15. Mansuhkan segala undang-undang yang menindas dan mendiskriminasi para pekerja, antaranya ISA, OSA, EO, DDA, Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti (AUKU), Akta Pertubuhan, Akta Penerbitan dan Mesin Cetak.
16. Menuntut suatu sistem kerajaan yang benar-benar telus, bersih, kredible dan bebas dari segala bentuk rasuah, kronisme dan penyelewengan.
Anil,
Lemme, a non-proletariat, attempt a stab on GST, on this day reserved for the Proletariat.
Image what if … our country is run by a responsible government for the past 53 years?
This country would have its ups and downs in the 53 years since independence, just like everything else.
But this country would be wealthy. For we have ample natural resource like timber, crude oil, tin, rubber, palm oil.
We also have a lot of very able, very creative, and very hard working people.
We have fertile soil.
And most importantly, this country doesn’t suffer from devastating Monsoon (Typhoon/Hurricanes) or Disastrous Earthquakes.
We do not have deliberating winter seasons either.
In other words, Anil, this is a country which could go distance.
But then … what do we have now?
Corruptions, corruptions and even more rampant corruptions.
It gets so bad that Mahathir’s sons are all (very wealthy).
Not only that, Mahathir’s kakis, like Samy Vellu and Ling Liong Sik, and that white hair from Sarawak, they all have sons and daughters (who are very wealthy).
Where do they got the money from, Anil?
Are they all expert magicians, Anil?
Can they make money out of nothing?
That is why our country is broke.
Purchasing 2 diesel subs also cost RM 3.4 Billion.
Getting some third rated armored vehicles also cost many more Billions.
Plus the planes, the white elephants that littered all over Malaysia, the send-young-Malay-boys-to-outer-space-program, the-build-world’s-tallest-building-program, the hire-Jews-to-arrange-meeting-with-president-of-the-United-States-program, the drop-a-Proton-car-on-the-Antarctica-program, and so many other ridiculous programs … all costing the Rakyat even more untold Billions.
May I ask you, Anil, can you find a way to tally up the TRILLIONS of the Rakyat’s money that have been lost to the institutionalized corruption in this country?
With those TRILLIONS, Malaysia never need any GST or VAT or whatnots.
But with the pokai Malaysia we have today, GST / VAT will become a reality very very soon.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Actually gst is not too bad provided if certain pre-conditions are met and also if income tax is also reduced proportionately.
As an Economist I can say GST is quite a flexible taxation system provided the abuses are checked.
The main abuse of GST is double taxation. The second abuse and a point of irritation is getting retailers to collect gst for the government.
For example, taxes on petrol are already in place and sneakily the Government puts a gst on petrol without rescinding on the other petrol taxes.
Another factor is the Government should abstain from charging gst on the very essential items like fresh food, daily consumption necessities like fresh fish and fresh meat, vegetables and oil.
A Pakatan Rakyat Government will not have gst on the necessary daily items such as unprocessed vegetables, fresh meat, rice, fresh milk, childrens text books etc. etc.
This items should not be taxed at all.
A Pakatan Rakyat Government will also not put GST on the table unless items that are already slugged by all kinds of hidden taxes such as fuels, oil and LPG have no gst placed on them.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
2. Kekalkan Cukai Korporat di tahap 27 peratus. Pengurangan cukai ini akan menyebabkan pengalihan beban cukai kepada rakyat biasa melalui Cukai GST
===
In Hong Kong with about 13% corporate tax rate is more tax income pays to the government. Why? Lesser tax evading attempts from the companies.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
1. RAKYAT MALAYSIA BANTAH CUKAI GST. CUKAI GST MEMISKINKAN RAKYAT!
====
This is wrong perception.
Only 10% working people open file with Income Tax Authorities in Bolehland.
GST or VAT can ensure those tax evading people pay taxes indirectly. The pre-condition is personal income tax rate must be cut accordingly as in Singapore.
I know a kampong folk earns 20-30K per month from the agriculture. He always under report his actual income. In reality, many kampung folks earn more than 2K, but they have never opened file with Income Tax Department.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
3. Gubal Akta Gaji Minima untuk semua pekerja dan mansuhkan polisi gaji murah
====
The minumum salary scheme may not work as intended IF foreign worker salary is at 50% or lesser of local worker.
Impose hefty tax from 100-200% on employer who hired foreign workers.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
13. Laksanakan Polisi ekonomi yang tidak mengira kaum dan jantina tetapi berlandaskan keperluan. Menuntut suatu model pembangunan yang saksama, yang memberi kepentingan kepada rakyat setempat di mana segala rancangan pembangunan mestilah dibincang dan dipersetujui oleh semua.
==
This is the first goal in the 1970′s NEP. But UMNO hijacked NEP and turned it into a racist policy.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
16. Menuntut suatu sistem kerajaan yang benar-benar telus, bersih, kredible dan bebas dari segala bentuk rasuah, kronisme dan penyelewengan.
==
Then you better vote for PR. BN is un-reformable …
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
11. Sediakan atau Laksanakan Skim Perumahan Rakyat pada harga yang mampu dibeli/dimiliki, lokasi strategik dan selesa untuk golongan yang berpendapatan rendah.
===
The cost of “rumah rakyat” is kept escalating is due to rent-seeking practised by BN.
Open tender will reduce the high cost burdened by our poor rakyats.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
7. Pengisthiharan Kesatuan Sekerja secara automatik dan pemansuhan undang-undang yang mendiskriminasi pekerja dan sebarang undang-undang baru bermotif memudahkan pembuangan pekerja oleh majikan.
===
I have reservation on forming worker unions without certain legal limitations. Irresponsible worker union may discourage foreign investment and destroy the healthy growth of our economy.
Have bad experience in dealing with worker union (official and unofficial one) in Indonesia. Illegal wildcat strike is too common over there and they have more power than management on how to run a profitable company.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
5. Cuti Bersalin 90 hari untuk pekerja wanita.
==
Less employers are willing to hire married women.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
point #15.
“Mansuhkan segala undang-undang yang menindas dan mendiskriminasi para pekerja, antaranya ISA, OSA, EO, DDA, Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti (AUKU), Akta Pertubuhan, Akta Penerbitan dan Mesin Cetak.”
————————
It looks like a pro PR supporters’ wishes rather than ordinary workers’ wishes. Laws that discriminate workers = AUKU, Printing and Press Acts, EO ???
Next time DO ask Karpal first before issuing such nonsensical declaration.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Aiyah, such good universal values are not owned by PR.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Who are those taking to the streets to fight for the rights of Malaysians? Majority of them are not of the Malaysian Chinese or Malay race, is it not?
Therefore it is incorrect for anyone to get so worked up with Indian Malaysians bashing/Chinese Malaysians bashing, for purportedly voting BN by Indians Malaysians, and for supporting PR and dumping BN by the Chinese in the Hulu Selangor by election. We are one united Malaysians, and we gotta be proud of that.
Those fighting for the rights of Malaysians are not fighting for their own rights or their rights of the Community, unlike the despicable Hindraf, is it not? Who says the Indians are naive of national issues? Who says the Indians are absolute supporters of BN? Those fighting for a fairer Malaysia are not likely to vote BN, or are they?
Everyone has their democratic rights, and we must ensure that our rights are respected. We should not fight amongst ourselves to achieve the aim of winning Putrajaya! No to racists politickings, no to UMNO Baru, MCA and MIC, also Gerakan K.
Cheers bro!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“Who are those taking to the streets to fight for the rights of Malaysians?”
Aiya, save it la !
When the Makkal Sakti people were on the street, they were fighting for the right of the Malays and Chinese too?
Please don’t make me laugh !!!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Oh! Ya, go on laughing and enjoy your Ikan Bakar.
As a supporter, I will not villify a race at will without having the statistics.
You are just another racist! You and Ibrahim Ali work wonders…
Cheers bro!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ah … can’t take the heat and still wanna kacau kacau, O ?
Face the truth, if you dare.
Who are the Makkal Sakti people? Melayu? Cina?
What are the Makkal Sakti people demonstrating for? For orang Melayu? For orang Cina?
Or for themselves?
But then, you are just like them Makkal Sakti people … can’t take the heat and still wanna kacau kacau … and when the ugly truth hits, what you do ?
Calling other people “Racist” !
Wow !
I must be happy now. Being called a “Racist” by another racist.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think GST is a great idea. Pay-As-You-Earn is broken because not everyone receives a fixed pay-packet for 40 hours per week in the office. My strong suspicion is that Malaysian workers’ righteous outrage at GST is mistaken. The source of the outrage is establishment figures – who don’t have a traditional pay-packet and who could easily judged by most workers to not really ‘work’. It is my view that they are deliberately misleading workers (using their greater ability to manipulate the media) as to the effects of GST.
Pay-As-You-Pay is not unreasonable – everybody pays for things, that’s what gives money value. People with more money spend more. A tax on spending inevitably is a greater tax on those who spend more than on those who spend less. GST is commonly implemented with a broad range of exemptions or reduced rates for necessities, the intent of which is to reduce the proportion of the household budget that is tax for the poorest households – those that spend proportionally more on necessities than they do on luxuries.
I still have yet to see the arithmetic for GST in Malaysia. All I read is people championing righteous outrage, but I can’t help thinking that the source is not those you claim to be defending, but those who stand to lose the most to an output tax: the NON-worker who does NOT have a traditionally taxable income.
Sums now …
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Penang state assembly ceiling collapses (http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/61834-penang-state-assembly-ceiling-collapses)
Save save save !!! No maintenance !!! Then splash RM100 everywhere !!!
Got money to do maintenance/repair works or not ???
p/s: I expect many by-elections when looking at the title. OK this time the rocket is lucky.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Are you sure the collapse is due to no maintenance or shoddy workmanship?
Get the fact first before you (write).
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Kat Penang siling.
Kat Terengganu satu stadium lagi.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Its not about GST so much as its about not giving the governtment new sources of funds. Those who don’t know that under Mahathir, the Total Factor Productivity of this country was essentially zero. Its not that they did not do anything productive but they wasted all of it. The productivity came from FDI and privatisation which were very considerable given the rise in income that was achieved. But they essentially wasted it all.
Now there is no FDI and no privatisation. Where is our growth coming from? Essentially from oil revenue and losser monetary policy. There have also been huge investment in education which is productive but a lot of that productivity is loss through migration. Furthermore a lot of that investment is private and come at the expense of retirement benefits of our older generation which will haunt us someday.
AND our productivity is still nearly zero. What does that mean? – We are actually more wasteful than before (because oil prices has shot up tremendously).
Would you give your money to someone that has performed zero rate returns and likely a negative rate of return? That is what any new taxes mean for Malaysia right now – we will be essentially giving money to people with a lousy track record likely a negative rate of return going forward.
It does not matter GST or anything else. The government has to show productivity – which is why it has to be PR because those governtment has show positive rate of return not spectacular but positive still..
Its why no new taxes GST or anything else before reform or a new government.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0