It is discriminating at all if someone doesn’t have his or her annual salary increment for last 10 years. It is beyond imagination that it happens in Public Work Department (PWD), according to Sri Tanjong Assemblyman Chan Foong Hin.
He commented on the issue of some what 300 PWD staff who refused to transfer to private company since 2004, when certain public works maintenance job were privatised to private sector. Among those PWD staffs affected by the privatisation, 16 of them are based in Tawau.
The spokesperson for the 16 Tawau PWD staffs, Ali bin Hussin, seek for help with Chan, after he has tried every means to have the meeting with ruling party people representatives, PWD director and various departments. According to Ali, they were given option to choose to join the private company in year 2004 but they refused the offer as they didn’t want to give up the benefits entitled for public servants, such as pension. Since then, their salary kept stagnant for last 10 years, and they have no promotion to higher grade of service.
“It is a way of discrimination. It looks like PWD want to force them to resign, isn’t it? I call upon PWD director to explain the issue publicly.” Chan said.
The DAP Sabah Vice Chairman also suggested that Sabah should emulate Penang State Government. It is not necessary privatisation of public service would increase efficiency of work by slimming down the numbers of public servants.
For instance, the DAP led Penang State Government tried a different approach via the Seberang Perai Municipal Council(MPSP) through the termination of all cleaning and garbage collection contracts with private contractors who mostly hired unskilled foreign labour at low wage.
“Instead MPSP hired 2,469 Malaysians at RM1,500 and above per month. In the past these garbage contractors, who are most likely to be cronies of the previous government, have used foreign workers to pad their profits. Even though the costs have now risen by 50% extra, Penang have created jobs for 2,469 ordinary Malaysian families who can prove that they can make Penang Cleaner and Greener.” Chan said.
Why not Sabah reduce the rampant privatisation projects in the state and the state government taking the lead to create jobs opportunity in the dawn of economic slow down in next year? Chan asked.