MTUC and Politics

my writing is in Malaysiakini letter to editor section today.

Everyones attention is on the budget today. I shall comment on that later.
MTUC needs political clout
Noor Yahaya HamzahSep 7, 07 1:36pm Adjust font size:

I refer to the malaysiakini report MTUC digesa 'kembali kepangkal jalan'.


I disagree with the so-called component trade union organisations which called for MTUC to desist from making a political stance and affiliation. It’s not that MTUC is 'joining' or supporting opposition parties, but rather the opposition parties are supporting MTUC in its fight for minimum wage and better working conditions.

I believe that if MTUC make a political stand, supporting whatever party that support sand fights for MTUC's causes, then MTUC would make headway in its fight for minimum wage and better working conditions.

Why do I say that?

Well, in Malaysia, as in any other democratically-governed countries, political clout will get you power, and power will translate to getting things done in the form of law provisions. When things are written down as law of a country, then citizens have to do things according to the law.

Do you see the missing link here? MTUC doesn’t have the political clout, hence it cannot elect or sway members of parliament who are sympathetic to its causes. So whatever MTUC wants, eg, a Minimum Wage Act, the MPs don’t give a damn. It is probably a case of our MPs already being swayed by parties who don’t want minimum wage laws.

According to this malaysiakini report Pemimpin MTUC jangan jadi juara politik kata Ketua Pemuda Umno, Johor Umno Youth chief Razali Ibrahim discouraged MTUC from getting involved in politics.

This fellow knows that if MTUC is a political force which can deliver a block vote of 10 million plus, then any political party which rubs MTUC the wrong way will be finished!

Human Resources Minister Dr Fong Chan Onn knows about this too. So he is using his deputy, Abdul Rahman Bakar to threaten the MTUC with de-registration.