Amenesty program for migrant workers or for some to make 'easy money'? for PRU13?

Looking at the '6P amnesty program' and what has been happening, one wonders what the real intention really is? Now, certain companies/societies are going to make a lot of money in this exercise, which will earn them up to about RM700 million. Will some of this money be flowing into the 'coffers' of BN parties/politicians, that may be used for the upcoming General Elections. The legality of the action, and what has been done is also in question.  

The Malaysian government came out with the 6P amnesty programme allegedly for the purpose of 'legalizing' undocumented migrant workers - but be very careful of the what the 'real purpose' of this exercise is. Is it not similar to amnesty programmes of past years - i.e. if you who are an undocumented migrant or employers of undocumented migrants, you will be spared legal action by the government - you will not be charged, tried, convicted and sentence in accordance with the law if you come forward now.  Wonder whether the BN government or the executive/cabinet even have the right to stop the operation of an existing law, when the said law does not specifically give this power to the government or the cabinet?

On June 23, the Government announced a two-week legalisation and amnesty exercise - codenamed 6P - during which illegal foreign workers and their employers would be spared from legal action if they took part in the drive.

The 6P programme comprises registration, legalisation, amnesty, supervision, enforcement and deportation and was expected to take six months to complete. - Star, 7/7/2011, Amnesty programme only after all legal foreign workers in biometric system

Then, they postponed the programme saying that they must first get the 2 million legal foreign workers registered first....

The Cabinet has decided that all the two million legal foreign workers be registered and included in the biometric system before starting on a similar exercise for the illegal ones, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the Cabinet felt this should be done first, especially when there was information that unscrupulous people were trying to make quick cash from the Government's intention to register illegal foreign workers in the country.

He said the Government was informed that certain parties, upon hearing that the Government wanted to register illegal workers, had planned to "turn the legal workers into illegals and make some money from this."

"The Cabinet has decided to push back the timeline to register illegal foreign workers and concentrate on putting the legal ones into the biometric system first.

"The employers will be tasked to come out and register their workers and details of this exercise, including its commencement date will be announced by the Home Ministry," he told reporters Thursday. - Star, 7/7/2011, Amnesty programme only after all legal foreign workers in biometric system

This is very very odd, and something smells fishy. Surely, all legal foreign workers should already have been registered - and, note that foreign workers in Malaysia have to apply/renew their work passes/permits every year - so really, there is no need for this sudden 'registration exercise' for migrant workers within any limited time-frame. This registration exercise could very easily be done by the Immigration Department, National Registration Department and/or the Labour Departments nationwide. 

Then, we recall an earlier report stating that some 1,400 have applied to become registration agents for the two-week legalization and amnesty exercise for illegal foreign workers that will be conducted next month. I do not recall seeing any advertisement or 'open public call' to companies to apply to become registration agents, did you? Openness and transparency was absent? Why would the government even need these private companies to be 'registration agents' - surely, it could all be done by the relevant government departments and bodies located all over Malaysia.  

Almost 1,400 companies have applied to become registration agents for the two-week legalisation and amnesty exercise for illegal foreign workers that will be conducted next month.

Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam said the applications would be vetted by a special committee with representatives from various ministries, government agencies, police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

He said illegal immigrants would not be charged any fees to register at the nearest immigration office or the appointed companies between July 11 and 24.

“This exercise is the last opportunity for employers to register their illegal workers before an integrated enforcement is undertaken by the Government,” Mahmood said. - Star, 24/6/2011, 1,400 apply to become amnesty agents

Then, the government chose 348  private companies and association as managing agents.. GOVERNMENT managing agents...

The Home Ministry has appointed 348 companies and associations as managing agents to process the registration and amnesty programme for the legal and illegal foreign workers.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong said the companies and the associations had been given a special briefing on the functions as well as the conditions that had to be adhered to.

“We have selected 348 from the 1,390 applications after a screening by a special committee comprising representatives of the Home Ministry, Human Resources Ministry, Police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said. - Star, 9/7/2011, 348 agents to process alien workers

But, why would private companies get involved - is it voluntary? is it part of national service?  On 24/6/2011, the government said, "illegal immigrants would not be charged any fees to register at the nearest immigration office or the appointed companies between July 11 and 24." but then, this changed and now, the Malaysian government says :"..the Government had imposed a condition that companies and associations can only charge RM35 for the registration exercise for each worker and a maximum RM300 for the subsequent amnesty programme...".Well, there are 2 million 'legal' migrant workers, and that is about RM70 million, and if divided equally between the 348 companies, that would be a clean income of more than RM200,000 income just for the legals, and for say the other 2 million 'illegal' migrants, for the registration only again another RM70 million for registration, RM600 million for amnesty programme, and divided equally between the 348, at an average they will make more than RM2 million each. A lot of money....

Now, let us look at who were appointed as this 348 agents? (Information obtained from the Immigration Department website).

Well, they are private employment agencies that are created under the Private Employment Agencies Act, and there are 'outsourcing agents/companies', that I am of the opinion are illegal as there seem to be no existing law that provides for their existence, and what they do is to provide workers to principals, and this again is something clearly not permitted by the Malaysian Employment Act for they really are 'contractors for labour' (something the BN government is trying to legalize now again through that Employment(Amendment) Bill 2011, now before Parliament. 

The practices of some of these 'outsourcing agents' also is trying to destroy, evade and disguise real employment relationships between principals and the workers that work for them, which will be highly detrimental to all workers, their unions and their ability to engage in 'collective bargaining and actions' to get better work conditions, wages and benefits.  

Many of these also seem to be companies involved currently with getting foreign workers to principals...so, would it also not be unwise to get them involved in this registration exercise. Some may be even 'users' of migrant workers. These may most likely be the 'unscrupulous people' our DPM was initially worried about, considering their close link with the business of 'migrant workers'. 

Better to use the government departments, or even some of the government linked companies like Pos Laju, etc who have no 'direct or indirect interest' in foreign worker recruitment, supply, etc...

Some believe that these 'outsourcing agents/companies' were created and allowed to operate (illegally most likely), without coming under existing law, i.e. the Private Employment Agencies Act, could be cronies of some political or other influential personalities - as, some of them, like 'toll operators' continue to take 'big commissions' from monthly wages of workers they supply, unlike private employment agencies that take a fixed fee when the worker is supplied to the principal. This 'connections' may be the reason why again, some of these 'outsourcing' companies have been given again yet another very lucrative opportunity to make money - and would a sum of this 'easy money' now be also flowing into the coffers for some politician/political party for the upcoming General Elections, PRU 13? It could happen, could it not - for these appointed 'agents' of the BN government would be happy to 'donate' to keep the BN in power in the hope of getting more similar opportunities in the future - maybe even getting all 28 million Malaysians registered in this new bio-metric system?

And, there still are the other legal questions:-

a) Under what law, are these 'government agents' appointed, licensed,...?

b) Under what law, can companies/societies, not individuals be appointed 'government agents' for this registration exercise?

c)  Under what law, can fees chargeable was fixed?

d) Or is this an 'outsourcing of work' by the government - not really the appointment of 'government agents'?

e) Under what law, when the Federal Constitution guarantees equality, are those permitted to go these agents be required to pay 'fees' but not for the others?

f) Private Employment Agencies and companies (or societies) are created by laws that dictate what they can do and cannot do - so this would not be a function that could be done by these entities, so how can they now be appointed, licensed...to do this work?

Oh, yes - everyone, especially governments, are bound by existing laws in Malaysia, so is there not a blatant infringement of the law here? Unless, of course this BN government could tell Malaysians under what law they are doing all these things, it would be good and would clear doubts...

Selected news reports are found below:-

PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has decided that all the two million legal foreign workers be registered and included in the biometric system before starting on a similar exercise for the illegal ones, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the Cabinet felt this should be done first, especially when there was information that unscrupulous people were trying to make quick cash from the Government's intention to register illegal foreign workers in the country.

He said the Government was informed that certain parties, upon hearing that the Government wanted to register illegal workers, had planned to "turn the legal workers into illegals and make some money from this."

"The Cabinet has decided to push back the timeline to register illegal foreign workers and concentrate on putting the legal ones into the biometric system first.

"The employers will be tasked to come out and register their workers and details of this exercise, including its commencement date will be announced by the Home Ministry," he told reporters Thursday.

Muhyiddin said he had agreed to the ministry's request for some time to register the existing pool of foreign workers the market.

He said even though they have valid work permits, these workers must be in the biometric system so that their movement "especially from one work place to another", could be closely monitored.

The Star reported that the programme to legalise and grant amnesty to an estimated two million illegals in the country - scheduled to start on Monday - had been deferred so that the authorities have more time to prepare for the mammoth exercise.

On June 23, the Government announced a two-week legalisation and amnesty exercise - codenamed 6P - during which illegal foreign workers and their employers would be spared from legal action if they took part in the drive.

The 6P programme comprises registration, legalisation, amnesty, supervision, enforcement and deportation and was expected to take six months to complete. - Star, 7/7/2011, Amnesty programme only after all legal foreign workers in biometric system

PUTRAJAYA: Almost 1,400 companies have applied to become registration agents for the two-week legalisation and amnesty exercise for illegal foreign workers that will be conducted next month.

Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam said the applications would be vetted by a special committee with representatives from various ministries, government agencies, police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

He said illegal immigrants would not be charged any fees to register at the nearest immigration office or the appointed companies between July 11 and 24.

“This exercise is the last opportunity for employers to register their illegal workers before an integrated enforcement is undertaken by the Government,” Mahmood said.

Serious matter: Mahmood speaking during the briefing at the ministry. Beside him is deputy secretary-general Datuk Alwi Ibrahim.

He said illegal immigrants who came into the country to work illegally, those who overstayed and those who misused entry permits and passes or falsified travel documents should register under the exercise.

Mahmood said those who had registered would be allowed to continue working until a decision was made.

He said the exercise was aimed at verifying the number of illegal immigrants in the country as well as compiling data and obtaining their biometric fingerprints.

“We want to create a comprehensive database on the foreign workforce in the country to allow effective monitoring and resolve the problem of forged documents,” he said.

Mahmood said the illegal immigrants who had registered would be legalised and offered employment in sectors where there was a need, while those who wanted to return home would be allowed to do so at their own expense without any action being taken against them.

He said illegal immigrants who failed to register would be liable for court action before being deported to their home countries.

“We will also blacklist them and deny them entry in future,” he added.- Star, 24/6/2011, 1,400 apply to become amnesty agents

PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry has appointed 348 companies and associations as managing agents to process the registration and amnesty programme for the legal and illegal foreign workers.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong said the companies and the associations had been given a special briefing on the functions as well as the conditions that had to be adhered to.

“We have selected 348 from the 1,390 applications after a screening by a special committee comprising representatives of the Home Ministry, Human Resources Ministry, Police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said.

Lee said the Government had agreed to defer the registration exercise, which was scheduled to start on Monday, until a new date was fixed.

“There are several factors, including the need for intensive training for 5,000 people who will be involved as well as a mechanism to address legal workers leaving their employers to register under the amnesty programme to find new employers with a higher pay.”

Lee said the Government decided that workers with valid work permits would not be given amnesty and would be required to return to their original employers.

The Star reported that the programme to legalise and grant amnesty to an estimated two million illegal immigrants in the country had been deferred to allow the authorities more time to prepare for the mammoth exercise.

On June 23, the Government announced a two-week legalisation and amnesty exercise codenamed 6P during which illegal foreign workers and their employers would be spared from legal action if they took part in the drive.

The 6P programme comprises registration, legalisation, amnesty, supervision, enforcement and deportation, and was expected to take six months to complete.

Lee said the Government had imposed a condition that companies and associations can only charge RM35 for the registration exercise for each worker and a maximum RM300 for the subsequent amnesty programme.

“The employers or the workers will not have to pay the charges if they deal directly with the Immigration department,” he said.

He said, under the amnesty exercise, the employers would need to make several payments for each worker to receive a permit.

“The payments are mandatory, including the levy and the guarantee bond, according to the sector and their country of origin, temporary working visit pass and insurance.”

Lee said the Government would provide information on the list of companies and associations appointed as managing agents, registration counters, procedures for registration as well as other information through the media and the ministry's website soon. - Star, 9/7/2011, 348 agents to process alien workers

Malaysian doctor - population ratio is still far short of WHO minimum standards...

We must be interested in doctor-population ratio, not the doctor-patient ratio. {Note that here we are looking at both doctors in government service and private practice, and we really need to be more concerned about the government doctor - population ratios).

According to the 2008/2009 Economic Report produced by the Minisitry of Finance, in 2007, this was 1:1,145, and the same figures seem to be given by the Health Minister in 2008 and 2009.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- The government aims to achieve a ratio of one doctor to 600 people by 2020, from 1:1,145 currently, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. - Bernama, 19/10/2009, Government targets doctor-population ratio of 1:600 by 2020

He said the the government was still facing a severe shortage of doctors in government, with only 60% or 13,000 positions filled. so far. This meant the doctor to patient ratio was 1:1,145, when the ratio for developed countries was 1 to 600, says Liow - Star, 13/6/2008, Doctors shy away from service at govt hospitals

 Population per doctor is 1:1,145 in 2007 - Malaysian Socio-Economic Indicators (Official Report)

Now, in a recent report, the Deputy Health Minister is telling us something different. Is she talking about doctor - patient ratio, or is she talking about doctor - population ratios? WHO Standard is talking about doctor-population ratios. A perusal of the Ministry of Finance report, shows that the doctor-population ratios for 2003 [1:1,377 ], 2004 [1: 1,402 ] 2005 [1: 1,300] 2006 [1: 214] and for 2007 [1:145]. Datuk Rosnah now tells us that last year (i.e. 2009), it was 1:940, and in 2000 it was very much better, i.e. 1:905.Is she telling us the truth? Is this the doctor-population ratios, or the doctor-patient ratios?

It is also shocking to note that the doctor-population ratios for Sabah [1:2248] and Sarawak[1:1709] seem to be far worse than the national figures. If Rosnah's figures are to be taken as correct, i.e. 1:940, this means that Sabah and Sarawak have been discriminated against. It is important for us to maybe try to get hold of other State figures to see if there is equitable distributions of doctors by the UMNO-led BN government - or is the Klang Valley and/or the Federal Territories being treated better compared to the other States? It is also important to see if the UMNO-led BN government has managed to overcome the shortage of government doctors remembering that the Health Minister in 2008 told us that there was a severe shortage - i.e.  40% of the positions yet to be filled.

The UMNO-led BN government has been pre-occupied with building projects...but less attention have been paid in getting sufficient  government doctors for all persons in Malaysia. Najib, when he became Prime Minister, had his own 1Malaysia Clinic projects - and these were open in many places where there already existed government clinics/polyclinics, when all we needed to do was to extend the services of these clinics(or part of these clinics) to 24 hours. There was no need for the renting of new premises, wasting money for renovations, etc. Money saved could have been better utilized increasing the number of government doctors, medical personnel and equipments. But alas, Najib wanted something for people to remember him by...besides the submarines, Altantuya, etc - and that would be the 1Malaysia Clinics...

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia continues to face a shortage of doctors, with the ratio falling short of the 1:600 standard set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said Friday.

She said the Malaysian ratio last year was 1:940 while in 2000, it was 1:905.

"The Government, particularly the Health Ministry, has drawn up several measures, including making available various incentives to raise the number of doctors and medical graduates in the country.

"Going by the annual increase in the number of medical graduates, we are optimistic of attaining the (WHO) ratio by 2015," she told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the ministry here.

The MoU was signed by Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia and the ministry to enable the educational institution to use the ministry's facilities for its campus in Johor once it begins operations next year.

Rosnah said a drastic shortage of doctors was experienced in Sabah and Sarawak because many medical personnel were reluctant to be transferred to those states.

"The ministry has taken steps to overcome this shortage, among them allocating more doctors to the two states, especially those serving in government hospitals or clinics.

"Besides, we also have a mandatory rotation system," she said.

Sabah and Sarawak have a doctor-population ratio of 1:2248 and 1:1709, respectively. - Bernama, Star, 23/4/2010, Malaysia hopes to attain WHO doctor-patient ratio by 2015

Given the amount of money expended by Malaysians for the education and training of medical students and personnel, maybe the period that they be bonded to the government, i.e. the period that they serve in government hospitals and clinics should be increased. Those, who do not want to be so bonded could always pay for their own education at private universities. Our priority must be the achieving of the 1 government doctor for every 600 persons. Salary for doctors and medical personnel should also be increased to prevent an outflow of valuable resources and government investments. Other incentives could also be provided, i.e. government housing, pension benefits, further education and specialization opportunities, participation in international medical conferences, etc.

I am sure that latest statistics are so easily available as to the numbers of government/private doctors, nursed, medical personnel. Statistics should also be available for the different states, regions, etc... 


Malaysian government  should really minimize their efforts in promoting medical tourisms. In an internet age, the private medical facilities can do their own promotion/marketing. Why waste government and Ministry of Health resources, time, money and personnel promoting greater business for private medical establishment.


The shortage of doctors & medical personnel, hospitals, specialist hospitals, etc is very real - and, one who even go to the less crowded specialist hospitals (compared to general hospitals, clinics, polyclinics), find that after registration at 8.30am, one only manages to see the doctor, get the medicine and leave at about 2-3pm....and the reason is not that the government employees are lazy and slacking - but is really because of the shortages we face. It is this delays that have driven many to the private clinics/hospitals... Really, Malaysia can do better...so much more better. Our PM, Ministers, etc...should really utilize the government clinics, polyclinics and hospitals as normal patients (with no preferential treatment) for them to understand better....


There was a General Hospital in Mentakab - and then in Temerloh, Pahang a specialist hospital was build. The Mentakab General Hospital was foolishly shut down, and now this places extra burden on the Temerloh Specialist Hospital (which caters for Pahang) because you still have to have wards for mothers delivering babies, accident victims, minor surgery patients. Really poor planning - and we really need the Mentakab General Hospital build up and operational again - and being beside the train station, bus routes, etc - it served a very large population of people. How many similar foul-ups have happened all over Malaysia?



 

Selangor MB/ADUNs/MPs should not be getting Director's allowances from State-owned companies

Selangor Menteri Besar/ADUNs/MPs who get appointed as Directors to State owned companies should not be getting additional money in the form of Director's allowances. This will be wrong. They should receive just their salary/allowances for being the Menteri Besar, State Exco, ADUNs and/or MPs. [In Thailand, when a former Prime Minister received money for doing a cooking show, it was wrong and the court kicked out that PM. Likewise, when one is a Menteri Besar and State Exco - they must not have any other source of income. Same goes for ADUNs/MPs. The exception would be maybe income that they have been earning from certain sources even before they came into that position - but this must be declared]

At the same time, when it comes to State-owned companies, CEOs, Directors and/or company management should not be paid more than the salary that the Menteri Besar and/or State Exco receives.

Workers in State-owned companies should also not be paid more than workers of the State government. They should be in the same scale as State government employees. There should be no additional bonuses, etc. State owned company workers should also be given the same benefits as other State government employees, or they should be receiving some reasonable payment in lieu of the said benefits. 

After all, they are working for the State government - and they should not be benefiting more than any other person working for the State.

If the State government feels that ADUNs and MPs of the State, MBs and State Excos are not being paid enough, then make sure that their salaries/allowances are increased by way of amendment of the relevant State enactments, and in the interim additional funds could be given to ADUNs/MPs,.... but it must be the same for all the ADUNs/MPs irrespective of which party they come from. [UMNO-led BN discriminates by giving special allocations to their MPs/ADUNs, and this is wrong - so Pakatan Rakyat must not follow suit, but set the example of how there must be no discrimination]

Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd(KSSB) - I am shocked that there is no transparency, and we are not even informed about who the Directors are, or who the main management are. You can find these information at most private company websites. There is also no statement of accounts, income and expenditure, profit and loss statements - these are information that one can obtain by doing a carian/search at the Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia - so really it is no big deal to have this information in KSSB and all other Selangor government (and other government) owned companies and entities. The annual report should also be there. What we want is openness, transparency, accountability, information.

I ask Anwar, Kit Siang and Hadi for a response, and hope that they will not be the same as the UMNO-led BN leaders who just will ignore it, or...... at the end of the day just not respond.

Government resources should not be used for Najib's personal family matters.

We cannot  be using the Malaysian people's money and resources for what really are personal affairs of Najib and his family.

A recent report in the Star,... on Najib's son speaking Mandarin, raises some questions.

Well done: Norashman receiving a certificate from Prof Chen after completing his course at the university in Beijing Friday. Looking on are Rosmah and Deputy Malaysian Embassador to China Lim Juay Jin. — Bernama

Also present at the ceremony were his mother Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and officials from the Malaysian embassy here.  

Was the Deputy Malaysian Ambassador and the 'officials from the Malaysian embassy' there during office hours - or were they there on their own during their break. Were they compelled to attend because it was the PM's son? I noted also a banner with Bahasa Melayu words... and that makes me wonder whether government money and resources were used for what really was a private personal matter...not something that Malaysians money should be used for. 

Also interesting is that Najib's son has a Chinese name, i.e. 'Ji Ping'. Is this true? Does this mean that all Malaysians can also have 'Chinese names' and other names ...just like our PM's son? Or is it just a privilege accorded to some of the elite in Malaysia?

It may just all be a political gimmick to try to woo back Chinese Malaysian support - but still, it certainly was a personal family matter - and government money and resources should not have been used. Answers are needed. 

BEIJING: After completing a three-week Mandarin course here, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s son took everyone by surprise when he delivered a speech in the language – and fluently.

The Prime Minister’s son not only pronounced the words correctly, but even used several phrases in his speech at a special course-completion ceremony here yesterday.

“He was hardworking during the course,” said Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) president Prof Chen Yulu.

Norashman who carries the Chinese name, Ji Ping, was awarded with a certificate and recognised as an alumni of the university.

Well done: Norashman receiving a certificate from Prof Chen after completing his course at the university in Beijing Friday. Looking on are Rosmah and Deputy Malaysian Embassador to China Lim Juay Jin. — Bernama

Also present at the ceremony were his mother Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and officials from the Malaysian embassy here.

“Although I was here for only three weeks, my command of Mandarin has improved a lot,” said Norashman in his speech. “I have also learned more about the Chinese culture and the Chinese community here.”

He said during his three-year study in the United States, he only had the chance to speak Mandarin in class and did not practise it after lessons were over.

“Mandarin is a language that needs constant practise because a different intonation of a word would carry a different meaning altogether,” he said.

“I have the perfect chance to practise the language at BFSU, as I have many local Chinese friends and Malaysian students studying Mandarin here,” he added.

Norashman felt that three weeks was too short a time and hoped to return to BFSU for an advanced Chinese course later on, a wish Rosmah said would be fulfilled.

“Najib has agreed to send Norashman for a one-month course at BFSU next year as well as to celebrate the university’s 70th anniversary as an alumni,” Rosmah said.

She said the Prime Minister wanted Norashman to master Mandarin so that it would be convenient for him to communicate with Malaysian Chinese in the language. — Bernama - Star, 3/7/2010, Najib’s son delivers speech in Mandarin