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?
"We have not decided when it should be completed but we are aware that
our respective offices are working hard on that," said Prime Minister Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi after talks with his counterpart John Howard.
<p>Howard, who is on a two-day visit, said it was important to boost economic
ties but that there should not be any pressure for a timeline on the free-trade
agreement (FTA) talks which began in April 2005.</p>
<p>"I think it’s very important that these negotiations not get hung up about
a particular time. You have to do it methodically, rather than hastily put together.
An FTA hastily put together could be counterproductive," he said.</p>
<p>Annual bilateral trade between the countries amounts to some US$7.5 billion
and Malaysia is Australia’s ninth largest trade partner.</p>
<p>One of the sensitive areas in the FTA negotiations is Australia’s bid for access
to Malaysia’s government procurement market, which favours the country’s majority
ethnic Malays.</p>
<p><b>Better ties now</b></p>
<p>Malaysia’s Muslim Malays lag economically behind its ethnic Chinese community
and under a system of positive discrimination, have sole access to specific
government contracts.</p>
<p>Restrictions on Malaysian government procurement have also been flagged as
a sensitive area in ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, although
Malaysia has flatly said it will not change its policies.</p>
<p>Howard is in Malaysia to reciprocate Abdullah’s visit to Australia last year.
Ties between the two nations have warmed significantly since former premier
Mahathir Mohamad stood down three years ago.</p>
<p>"I think it’s fair to say that our bilateral relationship now is as strong
as it’s ever been," Howard said at a joint press conference.</p>
<p>Mahathir, a political firebrand who often crossed swords with Canberra over
economic and political issues, had opposed accepting Australia and New Zealand
as partners in the region. – AFP
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com