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?
K. Sanmugam, 58, former National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) secretary-general,
pleaded not guilty to committing the offence at the union office at Bangunan
NUBE in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman here on Nov 24, 1996.
<p>Sanmugam, of Taman Seremban Jaya in Negri Sembilan, who had served the union
for about 15 years, was calm when a court interpreter read him the charge. If
convicted, he can be jailed up to 20 years, whipped and fined. </p>
<p>NUBE secretary-general J. Solomon lodged a report over the matter on Dec 14,
2001. </p>
<p>DPP Othman Yusof told the court that although the offence was non-bailable,
the prosecution would support Sanmugam being offered bail of RM200,000 in one
surety.</p>
<p>Pleading for a lower bail, defence counsel R. Shankar said that Sanmugam had
“fought for the benefit of bank workers and country”. Sanmugam had
also served as secretary-general of now-defunct Malaysian Labour Organisation.
</p>
<p>Shankar told the court that Sanmugam had undergone a heart bypass and co-operated
with the police. </p>
<p>He said Sanmugam, who was arrested on Wednesday, had to take care of his wife
and four children, three of whom were still schooling. </p>
<p>“Please consider that my client was unemployed for the past eight years.”
</p>
<p>Sessions Court judge Rosenani Abd Rahman set bail at RM50,000 in one surety
and ordered Sanmugam to surrender his passport to the court. She fixed Jan 16
for mention. </p>
<p>In the same court, former NUBE human resources executive P.R. Ramany, 48, claimed
trial to intending to cheat and falsifying accounts belonging to the union involving
RM1.25mil. </p>
<p>Ramany, who has been a union member since 1994, was said to have committed
the offence at the same place on Nov 14, 1996. Ramany, formerly a bank employee,
was seconded to the union in 2000. He left the union three years later. </p>
<p>If found guilty, he can be jailed up to seven years, or fined or both. </p>
<p>Defence counsel M. Manoharan asked for his client to be released on RM5,000
bail, saying that Ramany had to take care of his wife, three school-going children
and his elderly mother. </p>
<p>Rosenani set bail at RM20,000 in one surety and fixed Jan 16 for mention. </p>
<p>Both Sanmugam and Ramany posted bail.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com