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?
Both parties will conduct a joint feasibility survey on commercial and technological
matters in exporting Burmese gas to neighbouring countries through pipelines
and manufacturing liquefied natural gas.
<p>According to the Xinhua news agency, the deal was sealed between the Energy
Planning Department of the Burmese Energy Ministry and Petronas at the new administrative
capital of Naypyidaw on Aug 9.</p>
<p>The last known major deal between Malaysia and the Junta was in 2002 under
former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, where Petronas was awarded four production
sharing contracts to explore four blocks in the Tanintharyi area offshore southern
Burma.</p>
<p>The new deal was struck despite Malaysia’s strong position against the
Burmese military regime’s appalling human rights track record and resistance
towards adopting democracy.</p>
<p><b>Stay consistent</b></p>
<p>Kuala Lumpur-based Labour Resource Centre secretariat member K Shan denounced
the deal as previous pipelines construction projects in Burma resulted in numerous
incidents of human rights and environmental abuses.</p>
<p>Citing an example, he said in the early 1990s, the junta partnered US company
Unocal and France’s Total to construct the Yadana and Yetegun pipelines
through southern Burma.</p>
<p>“What followed was increased militarisation and systematic human rights
abuses by the Burmeses military such as forced labour to build access roads,
helipads and military barracks; land confiscated from farmers; and the Burmese
soldiers committing rape, torture and extrajudicial killings in the pipeline
areas,” he added.</p>
<p>Eventually, both companies paid hefty compensations to the affected groups
who fled Burma and filed suits against them in France and the US. The companies
however denied they had perpetuated human rights abuses.</p>
<p>In view of this, Shan warned that the Malaysian government would be seen as
compromising its aspirations and position on human rights and democracy in Burma
with this deal.</p>
<p>It also posed a question on Petronas’ commitment towards corporate social
responsibility (CSR), he added.</p>
<p>“Human rights compliance is of strategic importance in benchmarking CSR,
which is now increasingly being expected from businesses by the market, governments
and the courts,” he said.
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