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Group sends message to senators on unfair law
Free Malaysia Today - December 15, 2011
Organised by Oppressed People's Network (Jerit), they began their march from the Lake Gardens Park to the gates of Parliament House.
"We want to send a message to the senators in Dewan Negara not to pass the bill," said Jerit spokesman and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary general S Arutchelvan.
The group was made up of PSM, Jerit and unions such as Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), Electrical Industries Workers Union (EIWU) and Belton Workers Union Sungai Siput.
This is the second protest organised by Jerit against the amendments to the Employment Act which was passed after a five-hour debate at the Dewan Rakyat in October. The Employment Act amendments among others allows employers to outsource labour and is seen as unfair to workers.
Half an hour into the gathering at the gates of Parliament, five delegates were allowed to proceed to hand over a memorandum to the senators.
M Sugumaran of PSM, one of the five said: "Dewan Negara speaker Abu Zahar Nika Ujang informed us that he was not willing to receive the memorandum. It was then accepted by Senator Mumtaz Md Nawi from Kelantan on behalf of Pakatan Rakyat. BN senators or the president of the senate was not present."
PSM and Jerit had picketed previously in eight towns against the amendments. Last month the MTUC also conducted a nationwide picket.
Meanwhile, Kuala Langat MP Abdullah Sani, who was present today, said a mammoth protest will be mobilised if the amendments are not repealed. "I promise you if the amendments are passed, I as workers' rights caucus chairman will organise a mammoth rally on Feb 25," he said.
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