Movement Launches Election Mandate Highlighting Lack Of Basic Rights

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In conjunction with World Poverty Eradication Day, the Gabungan Marhaen comprising 12 sectors of community collectives and groups have launched their election mandate demanding recognition of their rights and enforcement of existing laws.
Their messages called for the most fundamental requisites like rights as workers and urban settlers or indigenous people, and enforcement of existing laws, alluding to the lack of these practices in the current governance.
Gabungan Marhaen national coordinator Karthiges Rajamanickam also highlighted forced evictions faced by various groups like farmers, urban settlers, retired plantation workers and animal breeders.
The group listed demands from the Farmers’ Coalition, National Breeders’ Association and Farm Community Support Committee for the halting of forced evictions by the government and instead recognition of their role in the country’s food security.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Housing and Urban Settlers pointed out the evictions they were facing and are calling for an anti-eviction enactment.
Karthiges said the poverty rate continued to grow after the Covid-19 pandemic even though the absolute poverty and extreme poverty rates had already risen to 8.4 percent and 1 percent in 2020.
He attributed this to sections of the middle-class population, already teetering on the brink, who were plunged into poverty owing to the socioeconomic effects of the pandemic.
Members of the community groups represented are from a myriad of movements ranging from farmers, fishermen, and the working class to indigenous people, breeders’ associations and urban settlers.
They stood with banners near the Masjid Jamek LRT station in Kuala Lumpur today, shouting slogans calling for the eradication of poverty.
Their message for a fair and equitable society was addressed to all political parties who will be vying for their votes in the upcoming 15th general election.
Not paid the sum promised
Groups like the Rights of Indigenous People, Government Contract Workers’ Network, Informal Workers’ Network, Farmers’ Coalition, Pesawah Network and the Environmental Coalition have all asked for various levels of recognition that range from basic rights and abilities to carry out duties to recognition of clear, present dangers that threaten Malaysians.
Workers’ groups highlighted the need for newer job types to be recognised as employees, the importance of job guarantees, especially among contract workers and various workers’ contributions as frontliners.
Meanwhile, the indigenous people called for the recognition of their rights to their customary land which entitles them to ownership with the intention to strengthen their status.
Government contract workers whose salary increments are reliant on the minimum wage hikes demanded the enforcement of minimum wage while truck drivers highlighted the lack of basic rights stated in the Employment Act 1955 like weekly rest days, annual leave, sick leave and public holidays.
Karthiges explained that there were still so many from the lowest earning bracket who could not enjoy the increments promised by the government.
The Federation of Trade Unions too is demanding improvements in the welfare and standard of living of workers while safeguarding union leaders against intimidation.
The Low-Cost Flat Group highlighted the standard of living issue where the maintenance of flats is borne by the respective municipal councils instead of dwellers of the low-cost units.
The Environmental Coalition also called for an immediate climate emergency with a moratorium on logging and mining in primary forests. - Mkini

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