Pekerja dan Kesatuan - REFORMASI atau terus lemah saja?

KESATUAN SEKERJA(Trade Unions) - nampaknya banyak telah gagal promosi dan/atau mempertahankan hak pekerja, termasuk hak ahli kesatuan sendiri. 

HAK PEKERJA, secara asas, akan terkandung dalam PERJANJIAN KERJA, iaitu kontrak di antara pekerja dan majikan. Biasanya, pekerja bila menandatangani kontrak kerja hanya memikirkan untuk mendapat kerja dan mungkin isu gaji - mereka tidak akan khuatir mengenai isu lain - justeru buta-buta sahaja tandatangani kontrak atau perjanjian kerja...tak melihat syarat-syarat atau terma lain dalam perjanjian tersebut.

Apa yang terkandung dalam PERJANJIAN KERJA boleh bila-bila dipinda menghasilkan PERJANJIAN KERJA baru, dengan lebih hak...tetapi biasanya sukar sekali untuk pekerja seorang diri dapat 'memaksa' majikan setuju pinda perjanjian asal - dan tambahkan hak atau tukar terma yang tak adil....Inilah tempat KESATUAN SEKERJA masuk - kerana jika ramai pekerja bersama menuntut sukar majikan menafikan...

TETAPI, di Malaysia, malangnya banyak KESATUAN SEKERJA tidak membuat semua apa yang mereka boleh - mungkin kerana pemimpin 'takut' atau sudah dipengaruhi majikan(sama ada mungkin melalui ugutan atau hadiah atau....). Mungkin pemimpin atau Kesatuan sendiri tidak tahu atau tidak mahu tahu....

PERJANJIAN BERSAMA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) - ini satu cara bagaimana hak dan faedah pekerja ahli boleh ditambah, lebih daripada apa terkandung dalam 'perjanjian kerja' asal bila masuk kerja....Ya, jika perjanjian bersama memberi hak/faedah lebih menguntungkan kepada pekerja daripada apa terkandung dalam 'kontrak kerja asal', pekerja boleh dan akan menikmati hak lebih dan terma yang lebih bagus dalam Perjanjian Bersama ini...

Selain daripada PERJANJIAN BERSAMA, Kesatuan Sekerja atau pekerja bersatu dengan solidariti boleh memaksa majikan setuju memberikan hak lebih...faedah tambahan...tak perlu pun masukkan dalam Perjanjian Bersama...[Perjanjian Bersama pun boleh dipinda bila-bila masa tetapi kebanyakkan Kesatuan hanya melihat kepada pindaan bila tamat tempuh Perjanjian lama, semasa berbincang kandungan Perjanjian Bersama akan datang - kenapa?]

GAJI MINIMA - tak perlu tunggu kerajaan tetapkan melalui undang=undang, pekerja bersama atau Kesatuan Sekerja boleh melalui perjuangan dapatkan majikan mereka setuju menetapkan gaji minima untuk pekerja mereka...

BONUS - Ini juga isu yang boeh ditetapkan dengan majikan. Ramai memperjuangkan isu bonus pasti setiap tahun, iaitu satu bulan atau lebih. Kenapa pekerja dan kesatuan memperjuangkan untuk bonus adil - yang dikaitkan dengan keuntungan majikan? Pekerja hotel dan restoran ada 'caj perkhidmatan', biasa 10% bergantung dengan pembayaran pelanggan - jika lebih pelangan, dapat lebih. Jika kurang pelanggan dapat kurang. Di negara Thailand, pekerja perladangan mendapat 40% daripada keuntungan ladang yang mereka jaga, majikan dapat 60%. Justeru, jika majikan mendapat keuntungan 1 juta ringgit, kenapa 25-40% keuntungan majikan disalurkan kepada pekerja sebagai bonus - JANGAN LUPA MAJIKAN TANPA PEKERJA TAK BOLEH OPERASI...JUSTERU TAK BOLEH UNTUNG?

KWSP - Undang-undang menetapkan peratus sumbangan pekerja dan peratus sumbangan majikan. Pekerja boleh mendapatkan majikan membuat sumbangan lebih, katakan 15%, dan untuk pekerja lebih 2 tahun, 17% dan seterusnya....Bukankah ini akan menguntungkan pekerja ahli kesatuan? Setahu saya, ada kesatuan yang telah berjaya mendapat ini - TNBJOU, kalau tak salah.

Kos pengangkutan pergi balik kerja, pengangkutan percuma pergi balik kerja, KOS SARA DIRI - semua ini pekerja bersama dan kesatuan boleh berjuang dan dapat dari majikan.

JANGAN LUPA Undang-undang hanya menetapkan HAK MINIMA sahaja - justeru, jika anda ada Kesatuan Sekerja, dan anda masih hanya menikmati 'hak minima' saperti tertera dalam undang-undang, ini bererti kamu dan KESATUAN SEKERJA, termasuk kepimpinan sedia ada, gagal ...

DEMOKRASI - adakah semua ahli dalam kesatuan sekerja anda ada hak mengundi memilih Presiden, Setiausaha dan barisan kepimpinan Kesatuan anda? Kini, Parti Keadilan Rakyat(PKR), yang mengatakan ada lebih kurang 800,000 ahli juga telah memberikan semua ahli parti hak mengundi dan memilih kepimpinan pusat parti - justeru, bukankah masanya untuk untuk semua ahli Kesatuan juga diberikan hak sama memilih kepimpinan pusat Kesatuan, khususnya Kesatuan Nasional, Negeri atau Rantau? Jika hanya perwakilan sahaja ada hak, senang sekali berlaku cronyism, politik wang...jika semua ahli ada hak memileh, pasti kepimpinan akan tambah lagi aktif dan lebih prihatin isu setiap ahli...

Jika dipantau, banyak kesatuan sekerja diterajui pemimpin sama berdekad-dekad - Kenapa? Adakah dikalangan ahli tak ada lain yang mampu menjadi pemimpin? Adakah kepimpinan kini melakukan tugas memberikan pengetahuan lebih, skil lebih, serta juga kepercayaan lebih menyediakan dan memberikan ahli lebih kepercayaan untuk berani bertanding jadi kepimpinan?

Ramai pemimpin dan kesatuan cukup aktif mendekati ahli apabila tiba masa untuk mendapatkan pengiktirafan syarikat majikan - kerana memerlukan undi pekerja cukup untuk dapat pengiktirafan...tetapi selepas dapat pengiktirafan, mereka kurang dekat dengan ahli...atau melakukan 'organising' proses perlu untuk menambahkan pengetahuan serta memperkasakan pekerja. Akibat ini, bila dipanggil ahli berpiket pun, kebanyakkan kesatuan tak boleh dapat pun 50% ahli kesatuan terlibat...

JIKA KESATUAN ANDA memanggil semua ahli untuk keluar ramai-ramai berhimpun untuk demonstrasi kekuatan dan solidariti ahli kesatuan - Berapa peratus akan keluar berhimpun? 100%? 80%? 50%? 20%? atau kurang? Jika kepimipinan dan Kesatuan tak boleh pun buat ini, adakah pihak majikan akan 'takut' atau 'hormat' kesatuan sekerja? Majikan akan lihat kesatuan sebagai 'bahan lawak' atau 'joke' - dan apa-apa permintaan atau tuntutan yang dibawa oleh Kesatuan akan tidak dihiraukan sangat oleh majikan - kerana majikan fikir Kesatuan lemah sekali, tak adapun sokongan semua ahli mereka...

Perhimpunan dan mesyuarat semua ahli dari masa ke masa amat penting untuk memperkasakan KESATUAN - dan menunjukkan bahawa KESATUAN kuat. Kesatuan Kebangsaan boleh adakan perhimpunan semua ahli peringkat bandar dan daerah - nak sewa dewan orang ramai pun lebih kurang RM300 sahaja, dan dengan kerajaan baru pasti lebih senang...

Di Indonesia, kesatuan kerap adakan mesyuarat dengan ahli setiap bulan(ada setiap 2 minggu) dan jika ahli tak hadhir 3 kali berturut-turut tanpa alasan baik, keahlian ahli dibatalkan. MENGAPA? kerana jika ahli tak boleh pun hadhir mesyuarat, pasti sekali ahli tersebut juga tak akan keluar berjuang melalui piket, protes bila diperlukan - justeru ahli kesatuan sedemikian tak perlu...tak guna???

PERHIMPUNAN RAMAI-RAMAI adalah bertujuan menunjukkan kekuatan kesatuan...kekuatan solidariti pekerja...ini akan memaksa MAJIKAN lebih menghormati kesatuan dan ahli, lebih takut menindas, lebih senang dipujuk setuju kepada tuntutan pekerja untuk lebih hak, faedah,...dll. Baru-baru ini, bila majikan mendapat petisyen ditandatangani semua ahli kesatuan, pihak majikan telah menarik balik ugutan mahu memulakan tindakan saman malu terhadap beberapa kepimpinan kesatuan. Ini berlaku bahawa majikan sedar pekerja bersatu, dan penerusan tindakan saman malu akan kemungkinan besar mendapat bantahan sepadu semua pekerja. HORMAT DAN TAKUT kepada Kesatuan? Berapa kesatuan di Malaysia ada hormat sedemikian daripada majikan? 

PERHIMPUNAN DAN PERARAKAN PEKERJA AHLI KESATUAN - ini satu hak semua rakyat. Pada 1 Mei, kesatuan boleh mengadakan perhimpunan/perarakkan di setiap bandar/daerah - jangan saja di KL atau satu lokasi di Lembah Kelang, kerana jimat kos dan masa pekerja pergi jauh...di tempat dekat, di bandar sendiri lebih praktikal - jangan lupa disetiap bandar/daerah pun ada berpuluhan ribu ahli kesatuan, tak kira kesatuan pekerja kerajaan, pekerja swasta...mungkin pada tahun 2019, kita akan lihat ini - tindakan menunjukkan bahawa KESATUAN pekerja di Malaysia masih kuat dan ada solidariti tinggi - cuti awam lagi...semua boleh turun padang beberapa jam khususnya di bandar tempat pekerja tinggal. Perarakan disudahi dengan aktivi sosial yang lain saperti perayaan Hari Merdeka adalah pelan bagus menunjukkan bahawa pekerja bersatu...union kuat...dan Majikan harus lebih prihatin kepada tuntutan pekerja...dan jangan berani senang-senang tindas pekerja ...Jika cuba tindas, pekerja bersatu akan bertindak berjuang menegakkan keadilan...

Majikan memang suka pekerja 'takut'...senang ditindas...dan bila ditindas pun atau dilakukan pencabulan hak, tak ada bantahan daripada pekerja lain dan atau kesatuan lain..

MEMALUKAN untuk pergerakkan buruh bila MAS lama memberhentikan beribuan ahli kesatuan, tak ada pun satu piket atau protes beramai-ramai melibatkan union yang ahli mereka dibuang kerja...

MEMALUKAN juga bila kepimipinan Kesatuan dibuang kerja pun, ahli kesatuan beramai-ramai tak keluar protes...

Semua ini yang telah berlaku hanya telah menjejaskan persepsi kekuatan dan berkesanan Kesatuan Sekerja di Malaysia...

UMNO-BN telah ditendang keluar setelah lebih 60 tahun memerintah,,,kini kita berjaya mempunyai kerajaan alternatif PH..

Bagaimana pula keadaannya dengan pekerja, kesatuan sekerja dan pergerakkan buruh...adakah akan terus 'lemah' saperti dulu, atau akan BANGKIT SEMULA menunjukkan bahawa pekerja ada SOLIDARITI tinggi - dan kita akan membantah dan berjuang demi keadilan sekiranya mana-mana pekerja ditindas atau jika hak munasabah kami dicabul atau dinafikan...

Semua bergantung kepada pemimpin? Salah ...semua bergantung kepada pekerja...termasuk ahli kesatuan. Jika Kesatuan lemah, jangan lupa ianya adalah salah ahli pekerja sendiri ...pemimpin lemah senang dibuang...pemimpin tak buat kerja senang diganti...

Apakah yang pekerja dan kesatuan sekerja di Malaysia mahu? kekalkan keadaan sedia ada saja ...atau REFORMASI?

Sad when PH government have not spoken up on guilty forced to wear 'monkey' vests when doing community service?

Where are the good people? Why are they not protesting the making of criminals wear vest with the words 'MONYET'(Monkey), now a picture of a monkey, when they carry out their community service sentences in public? Now, the said Local government, has replaced the words with a picture of the Monkey?

Public derogatory name calling is so wrong, and has the effect of scarring people and their families for life.

Remember, a person who commits need to be punished - BUT even the Guilty deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. Furthermore, it is our object to REHABILITATE and re-introduce wrong doers into society as good persons. 

it is sad that so many think this 'FUNNY' - And such response have simply motivated this local government to continue such a bad degrading practices?

PAS, DAP, BERSATU, PKR, AMANAH, WARISAN, UMNO, GERAKAN,... DO YOU ALSO THINK THERE IS NOTHING WRONG? This is not funny - and our new PH government need to take a principled stand on such practices.

Malanjum was asked his response to the forced community service meted out in Semporna, Sabah after several litterbugs were forced to don green vests with the word “MONYET” (monkey) emblazoned on them as part of their punishment for dumping garbage indiscriminately in the district earlier this week....The chief justice said that punishment has worked in Sabah due to the public shame rained on the perpetrators of misdemeanors and encouraged judges elsewhere to try it out.- Malay Mail, 11/1/2019 [According to the report, the Chief Justice of Malaysia, advocated use of community service as an alternative form punishment but did not specifically make any comment on the using of vests with the words 'Monyet'(monkey), it would be disappointing if he saw nothing wrong]

* Remember the sentence was fine of RM100, or do one hour community service - hence, it is likely that it is only the poor who cannot afford the fine that gets victimized here - This is no laughing matter, and everyone, including criminals and suspect, deserve to be treated with respect and dignity - that is what the UN standards say.

See MADPET's statement to understand why such practices must be immediately stopped? and also see earlier posts:-

Madpet selar buang sampah dipakaikan vest 'monyet'{Malaysiakiini)

Wearing Vests With ‘MONYET’(Monkey) While Sentenced To Do Community Service Is Derogatory And Wrong - MADPET

Group against making a monkey out of offenders on community service(TheSunDaily)

Monkey around and pay the price in Semporna

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• NATION
• Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019

SEMPORNA: Local authorities will continue ordering litterbugs to wear a special “upgraded” vest to fix the longstanding rubbish problem in Semporna, said district officer Bianus Kontong.


Kontong thanked the public for their feedback, including those who criticised them for ordering litterbugs to wear the vest with the word monyet (monkey).

He said instead of removing the word, the committee had decided to upgrade the vest with the image of a monkey and the words “kerja amal mengutip sampah”.
“We want to send out a message to all, including tourists and visitors, that we are serious about making Semporna trash-free.

“There were many positive and negative responses but we won’t budge on this matter,” he said yesterday.

Kontong said the committee tasked to clean up Semporna has set a key performance indicator for the district to be trash-free by April this year.

He said 48 people had been penalised for littering since the programme started in November last year, including two Chinese tourists.

Of that number, 32 people opted to pay the RM100 fine while the remaining chose to do the “one-hour” clean-up.

Kontong said they were mulling to increase the fine to RM500 and doubling the community service time to two hours, as well as introducing more “creative” penalties.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal expressed confidence that the target would be met with the assistance from the public.

“We still need to do more to increase community participation so that the results and positive changes in attitude would be permanent.

“There must be continuous awareness and education to make cleanliness a part of our culture,” he told reporters after meeting local civil servants and community leaders. - Star, 15/1/2019

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/15/monkey-around-and-pay-the-price-in-semporna/#m5qs5SEEmgbUSUOx.99

Death to drug traffickers, even if innocent simply because of unjust Legal Presumptions?

Media Statement - 24/1/2019

Repeal Unjust Legal Presumption Provisions, That Shifts Burden Of Proof From Prosecution To Accused Persons, Especially For Drug Offences

Commute Death Sentences And Abolish Death Penalty

MADPET(Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) supports the call for abolition of the legal presumptions of possession and/or trafficking in the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952(DDA) that shifts the burden of proof on the accused to prove his innocence, especially for a crime that carries the death penalty.

Member of Parliament, Ramkarpal Singh,  ‘…called for the abolishment of the death sentence in drug cases, particularly those which rely on presumptions to establish the crime….“Imposing such restrictions on judges by the imposition of such presumptions is dangerous as a person may be sent to the gallows for a drug-related offence although the judge might not necessarily be convinced of his guilt,”(FMT News , 22/1/2019; Malaysiakini, 22/1/2019).

Section 37 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 lists down several legal presumptions, which on the proving of some facts, it will apply, thereby shifting the burden of proof to the accused to disprove the presumption. Some examples of such presumptions are as follows:-

‘…(b) a person, until the contrary is proved, shall be deemed to be the occupier of any premises, if he has, or appears to have, the care or management of such premises;…

(d) any person who is found to have had in his custody or under his control anything whatsoever containing any dangerous drug shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been in possession of such drug and shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have known the nature of such drug;…

(g) if any dangerous drug is found to be concealed in any premises, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the said drug is so concealed with the knowledge of the occupier of the premises;…’

In criminal trials generally, the burden of proof rests with the prosecution, who is bound to prove each and every element of the crime beyond reasonable doubt.

The accused really do not have the resources and/or  the capacity, unlike the State or prosecutors, to disprove such presumptions.

How does one proof that drugs found in their homes, cars or premises was not theirs, or that they had no idea that it was  there. Anyone could have planted these drugs without the knowledge of the accused, and it is near impossible for the accused to be able to prove this.

It very different in cases of corruption, where it is proven that a person have received monies, etc, like maybe having in their accounts large sums of monies like thousands or billions of ringgit, far more than what they could have legally earned. In such cases, applying  legal presumptions may be fair.

An example of such a legal presumption, is found in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009

Section 50(1 Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009), for example for offences of corruption and bribery provides that, If ‘….it is proved that any gratification has been received or agreed to be received, accepted or agreed to be accepted, obtained or attempted to be obtained, solicited, given or agreed to be given, promised, or offered, by or to the accused, the gratification shall be presumed to have been corruptly received or agreed to be received, accepted or agreed to be accepted, obtained or attempted to be obtained, solicited, given or agreed to be given, promised, or offered as an inducement or a reward for or on account of the matters set out in the particulars of the offence, unless the contrary is proved….’

But, when it comes to drug offences, some of which carries the death penalty, it may be time to abolish these legal presumptions, returning the onus of proving all elements of the crime to the prosecutor.

One of the worse of these Legal Presumptions is the presumption of trafficking, which really only depends on the amount of the drugs found. Section 37(da) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 states that:-

‘… (da) any person who is found in possession of-

(i) 15 grammes or more in weight of heroin;

(ii) 15 grammes or more in weight of morphine;…

(vi) 200 grammes or more in weight of cannabis,…

(ix) 40 grammes or more in weight of cocaine;…

otherwise than in accordance with the authority of this Act or any other written law, shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, to be trafficking in the said drug;

It is as such certainly more just to repeal this Legal Presumption. The prosecution should be burdened with the onus of proving something more than mere possession to find anyone guilty of drug trafficking, which still is a death penalty offence in Malaysia.

The DDA 1952 have been amended during the tenure of the previous administration to give rise the possibility of a sentence other than death penalty, but judge’s hands are still tied as they are still prevented from considering all possible mitigation and aggravation factors when it comes to sentencing. Hopefully, this new government will correct these many flaws, which have been highlighted by many including the Malaysian Bar.

In any event, MADPET

-          Calls for the immediate repeal of Legal Presumptions in the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which shifts the burden of proof to accused persons, especially when it comes to death penalty offences;

-          Calls for the commuting of all persons still facing the death penalty for drug trafficking, being persons who were convicted before the amendment of the DDA 1952, which opens to the possibility of sentence other than the death penalty, came into effect;

-          Calls also for the release of all that are facing detention and/or restrictions allegedly for drug trafficking under the various Detention Without Trial Laws, including POCA(Prevention of Crimes Act). They should be charged and accorded a fair trial, or should be immediately and unconditionally released.

e

-          Reiterates the call for the imposition of a moratorium on all executions, and the abolition of death penalty.

Charles Hector

For on behalf of MADPET(Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

See earlier post:-

Axe death penalty where presumption is used to establish crime, says MP(FMT)

Group against making a monkey out of offenders on community service(TheSunDaily)

Group against making a monkey out of offenders on community service

ELLY FAZANIZA /

24 JAN 2019 / 10:19 H.

The offenders wearing wear green vests with the word ‘Monyet’ emblazoned on them . — Facebook

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) is appalled by the revelation that minor offenders sentenced to do community service have been made to wear green vests with the word “Monyet” (monkey) emblazoned on them in Semporna, Sabah.
Its legal advocate Charles Hector said although community service as a sentence is not the issue, the word “monkey” on their vest is just wrong.
“Even convicted persons must be treated with dignity. Doing community service in public is punishment enough. There is no need for any derogatory name association with even the guilty,“ he said in a statement.
“A person who is found guilty certainly needs to be punished, but we must not go overboard to permanently scar their dignity, name or reputation. After serving their just sentences, we hope that they will be reintegrated into society as good contributing citizens, never to again resort to crime.”
He added that in May 2017 that the then Woman, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun was said to have mentioned a total of 4,620 youths, aged between 18 and 21, were punished with community service between 2008 until 2016 for their involvement in social ills and crime.
“Azizah said the community service was aimed at rehabilitating and preventing young offenders from repeating past mistakes - restoring them to society through sentencing, rehabilitation and awareness’.
“It is not clear as to how many adults were sentenced to community service in Malaysia, but the stress should be that any punishment, including community service is ultimately rehabilitate a person not to permanently scar them, and indirectly their families as well.
“It may be acceptable for those sentenced to do community service to don brightly colored vests with words like ‘Community Service For Committing Crimes’ or such, but the derogatory branding with words like Monyet must end.” - The Sun Daily, 24/1/2019


See earlier posts:- 
Madpet selar buang sampah dipakaikan vest 'monyet'{Malaysiakiini)



Wearing Vests With ‘MONYET’(Monkey) While Sentenced To Do Community Service Is Derogatory And Wrong - MADPET

MADPET - Wearing Vests With ‘MONYET’(Monkey) While Sentenced To Do Community Service Is Derogatory And Wrong The Guilty And Prisoners Must Always Be Treated With Respect And Dignity

Madpet selar buang sampah dipakaikan vest 'monyet'{Malaysiakiini)

Madpet selar buang sampah dipakaikan vest 'monyet'

News  |  Diterbitkan Hari ini 4:00 petang  |  Dikemaskini Hari ini 4:00 petang

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Rakyat Malaysia Menentang Penderaan dan Hukuman Mati (Madpet) menyelar tindakan pesalah kesalahan kecil membuang sampah di merata-rata dipakaikan vest bertulis “monyet” ketika menjalani hukuman kerja amal.

Kumpulan antihukuman mati itu berkata tindakan itu salah kerana biarpun seseorang itu bersalah, maruahnya hendaklah dipelihara.

“Pihak yang melakukan kesalahan perlu dihukum tetapi kita tidak harus berlebih-lebihan dengan mencalarkan maruah, nama dan reputasi mereka secara kekal,” kata jurucakap Madpet Charles Hector.

Dalam kenyataan hari ini, Charles berkata, resolusi Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (PBB) menyebut setiap manusia hendaklah dilayan dengan penuh hormat sebagai manusia.

Minggu lepas, seramai 48 orang, termasuk dua warga China, didenda RM100 kerana membuang sampah merata-rata di Semporna.

Pegawai daerah itu Bianus Kontong berkata 16 orang yang tidak membayar kompaun memilih untuk melakukan kerja amal selama sejam dengan mengutip sampah sambil memakai vest bertulis “monyet”.

Bianus berkata masalah sampah di Semporna agak kronik dan 'ubat' mengawalnya adalah dengan pelaksanaan kaedah yang agresif dan tegas terhadap kutu sampah.
 Malaysiakini,. 22/1/2019

Lihat kenyataan media penuh di 

Wearing Vests With ‘MONYET’(Monkey) While Sentenced To Do Community Service Is Derogatory And Wrong - MADPET

Wearing Vests With ‘MONYET’(Monkey) While Sentenced To Do Community Service Is Derogatory And Wrong - MADPET

Update:-Malaysiakini carried this Media Statement -Why the 'monkey' vests for community service? - Malaysiakini, 22/1/2019

Media Statement – 22/1/2019

Wearing Vests With ‘MONYET’(Monkey) While Sentenced To Do Community Service Is Derogatory And Wrong

The Guilty And Prisoners Must Always Be Treated With Respect And Dignity

MADPET(Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) is appalled by the revelation that minor offenders sentenced to do community service have been made to wear green vests with the word “MONYET” (monkey) emblazoned on them in Semporna, Sabah. (Malay Mail, 11/1/2018).

Whilst, community service as a sentence is not the issue, but the word ‘monkey’ on their vest is just wrong. Even convicted persons must be treated with dignity – doing community service in public is punishment enough – they is no need for any derogatory name association with even the guilty.

The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 45/111 of 14 December 1990, in Article 1 states, ‘All prisoners shall be treated with the respect due to their inherent dignity and value as human beings.’. Wearing a vest with the word “MONYET” (monkey) emblazoned on them is certainly not respect due to their inherent dignity and value as human beings.

A person who is found guilty certainly needs to be punished, but we must not go overboard to permanently scar their dignity, name or reputation. After serving their just sentences, we hope that they will be re-integrated into society as good contributing citizens, never to again resort to crime.

It was also revealed in the media in May 2017 by the then Woman, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun, that ‘…A total of 4,620 youths, aged between 18 and 21, were punished with community service between 2008 until last year[2016] for their involvement in social ills and crime… Azizah said the community service was aimed at rehabilitating and preventing young offenders from repeating past mistakes - restoring them to society through sentencing, rehabilitation and awareness’. It is not clear as to how many adults were sentenced to community service in Malaysia, but the stress should be that any punishment, including community service is ultimately rehabilitate a person not to permanently scar them, and indirectly their families as well.

It may be acceptable for those sentenced to do community service to do don brightly colored vests with words like ‘Community Service For Committing Crimes’ or such, but the derogatory branding with words like MONYET(monkey) or such words must end.

The Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum proposal to using alternative sentences like community service for minor or less serious offences is good, but MADPET proposes that this option also be considered for other crimes.

In Malaysia day, there are just too many persons in detention for a country of about 30 million people. Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) as at September 2017, according to the World Prison Brief, who claims the data was provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs is 55,413, of which about 29.8%(as of mid-2017) are pre-trial or remand prisoners.

This means about 177 of every 100,000 in Malaysia are in prison. The official prison capacity in September 2017 was 45,640, and the occupancy level then was 121.4%. There is serious overcrowding in Malaysia’s prisons.

The pre-trial detainees/remand prisoners, which is about 30% of the total prison population, would be those still not convicted who are not qualified to get bail, who have been denied bail or those who cannot afford to pay the bail amount.

It will include also all persons charged under any one of the listed security offences in  Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012(SOSMA), as section 19(1) SOSMA states, ‘19(1) Bail shall not be granted to a person who has been charged with a security offence.’. This would include the about 60 Penal Code Offences, including that about 9 unjust questionable ‘activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy’ offences introduced in 2012 by the past government.

Whilst Malaysia has a prison population rate of 177, many other countries have much lower – India(33), Iceland(37), Japan(41), Finland(51) and Sweden(59). There really must be a serious review of the reasons of such high numbers in Malaysian prisons. Prison conditions and treatment of detainees, especially pre-trial detainees/remand prisoners, also need to improve.

Adequacy of judges and courts also may be of serious concern, as pre-trial detainees/remand prisoners who are innocent until proven guilty, deserve speedy trials which really should start and end within three(3) months at most.

Sentencing provision in laws need to be looked at, including providing for lesser sentences for first-time offenders and minor offences. Are prison sentences just too long?

It must be pointed out that many innocent persons, especially the poor who cannot afford bail, may simply elect to plead guilty and serve their sentence, rather than risk long detentions awaiting the completion of their trial. This is an injustice we really do not want.

MADPET is also concerned with the treatment of suspects and those not yet convicted, who are forced to wear lock-up and/or prison clothes when they appear for their remand applications and/or trial.

Justly, they should be allowed to wear normal clothes, especially when they go to courts, for the negative effects of being seen and/or photographed wearing such ‘attire’ will have long term impact not just on them but also their family/friends, more so if they are ultimately not found guilty after a fair trial. Eventhough, judges may be professional, they are still human. Would not the seeing of accused persons in such attire and condition act negatively against the accused in trial?

In some jurisdiction, suspects and accused are allowed to clean themselves up and wear decent clothing before they are brought for their remand proceedings and/or trials. The State even goes to provide them with decent clothes for their court appearance, if needed.

As such, MADPET

-          Calls for the immediate removal of the word ‘MONYET’(monkey) from the attire used by persons sentenced to do community service whilst they carry out their sentence. Prisoners should be treated with respect and dignity;

-          Calls for the abolition of the practice the wearing of ‘special’ lock-up or prison attire when suspects attend the remand applications, or when accused attend their trials;

-          Call for the review of sentences, introducing also alternative sentences like community service, always bearing in mind that the primary object besides punishment is the rehabilitation and future re-integration into society;

-          Calls that Malaysia ensure that all persons be entitled to bail, and no one should be denied bail simply by reason of poverty or laws like SOSMA, that unilaterally deny bail for all charged with a ‘security offence’. The entitlement to bail, or otherwise, should be sole discretion and responsibility of judges after considering all relevant factors. Parliament should not deny bail by law as was done in SOSMA;

-          Calls that for those accused who remain in detention, a speedy trial be guaranteed;

-          Reiterates the call for the immediate repeal of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, and to guarantee a fair trial for everyone using the same Evidential and Procedural requirement/conditions for all;

-          Call for the introduction for a Criminal Compensation law, that will provide adequate compensation for all who have been detained wrongly, who at the end of the day are not found guilty and convicted by the Courts. This will at least bring about some justice to victims and their families, resulting from wrongful detention by police/State;

-          Calls for an improvement of prison conditions, and a serious effort to reduce the prison population to a reasonable prison population rate;

-          Call on Malaysia to adhere to the 1990 United Nations General Assembly Resolution 45/111 Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners, and also the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners;

Charles Hector

For and on behalf of MADPET(Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Malaysiakini carried this Media Statement -Why the 'monkey' vests for community service? - Malaysiakini, 22/1/2019

Notes:-

What’s better than jail for misdemeanors? Community service, says CJ(Malay Mail, 11/1/2019) https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/01/11/whats-better-than-jail-for-misdemeanors-community-service-says-cj/1711491

Picture of these MONYET(Monkey) vests - NGO respects local authority's decision on MONYET vests for litterbugs(New Straits Times, 10/1/2019)

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/01/449248/ngo-respects-local-authoritys-decision-monyet-vests-litterbugs

Source: New Straits Times, 10/1/2019

What’s better than jail for misdemeanors? Community service, says CJ

Published 1 week ago on 11 January 2019

BY KENNETH TEE

Malanjum said that on top of being a successful step to discourage repeat offenders, community service is able to solve the problem of overcrowding at prisons under the current penal system. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 11 — Sentencing a serial offender of minor offences to community service has proven to be a more effective deterrent than sending them to prison, Tan Sri Richard Malanjum said today.

The chief justice said that punishment has worked in Sabah due to the public shame rained on the perpetrators of misdemeanors and encouraged judges elsewhere to try it out.

“There is a provision in the Criminal Procedure Code which allows punishment through community services for non-severe offences and we use this against them.

“We find it very effective than sending them to prison for a week or a month,” he told a press conference at the opening of the legal year 2019 at Putrajaya Marriott hotel here.

He added that on top of being a successful step to discourage repeat offenders, community service is able to solve the problem of overcrowding at prisons under the current penal system.

Malanjum was asked his response to the forced community service meted out in Semporna, Sabah after several litterbugs were forced to don green vests with the word “MONYET” (monkey) emblazoned on them as part of their punishment for dumping garbage indiscriminately in the district earlier this week.

Semporna has been facing cleanliness issues for a long time due to the attitude of the locals and especially foreigners who often throw rubbish indiscriminately.

Earlier during his speech, Malanjum said judges and judicial officers were being encouraged to consider imposing community services instead of imprisonment to offenders in appropriate cases.

“In this way not only it may better rehabilitate the offenders, it is also costs saving for the prison,” he said.

In November last year, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said he was dissatisfied with the level of cleanliness in Semporna which he feared will negatively affect tourist arrivals. - Malay Mail, 11/1/2019