Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
"An open and transparent discussion should be held with all peoples’ organisations, NGOs, human rights commissions, political parties and workers unions to inform them of developments in the negotiations and to get feedback," the Peoples’ Coalition Against US-Malaysia FTA said today.
<P>The government should also conduct a cost and benefit analysis of the FTA, and make
public its results, it said.</P><P>"The government should be transparent
and reveal the contents of the ongoing FTA negotiations," representatives
from the 42-member coalition, comprising non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
and opposition parties said in a press conference.</P><P>They noted that International
Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz has yet to inform the public
about the FTA’s key implications.</P><P>"Only now, after the fifth round
of talks, the cabinet ministers are being briefed and requested to give feedback,"
the coalition said.</P><P>Rafidah was reported to have briefed the ministers on
58 contentious issues holding up the FTA a fortnight ago.</P><P>The ministers
are expected to submit their views to the cabinet either tomorrow or next week.</P><P>Suaram
executive director Yap Swee Seng said if the government was sincere the FTA would
benefit the people, it should not have a problem keeping Malaysians informed.</P><P>"The
people have the right to know what’s going on if the government is representing
the people. I don’t see how revealing the contents of the negotiations will jeopardise
it," he said.</P><P>Ministry officers could not be reached for comment.</P><P>US
negotiators were rushing to sign the FTA by the end of next month before its fast
track authority runs out at the end of June but this seems unlikely now because
of the outstanding issues.</P><P>Malaysia has also said it will not be rushed
into signing a deal.</P><P>The US is Malaysia’s biggest trading partner and foreign
investor, and Malaysia is the US’ 10th largest trading partner. The two countries
had US$44 billion (RM154 billion) two-way trade in 2005.</P><P><I>Source: http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=17122</I>
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