Thesun 2009-05-26 Page03 Work On Rm1

theSun

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| TUESDAY MAY 26 2009

news without borders

Employers want clarification on foreign workers PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) yesterday called on the government to clarify its policy on the renewal of permits for the existing foreign workers. Its executive director, Shamsuddin Bardan, said of late the federation had received many complaints from members who were finding it difficult to renew the permits. “Previously, it was a breeze to renew the permits but now it was very slow as the immigration department took a longer time to

process each application,” he told Bernama, here. He said the delay had caused concern to companies as they were uncertain whether the permits would be renewed or not. “We are tempted to interpret it as an attempt to force these workers to go back to their country of origin,” said Shamsuddin. “Whatever it is, it is better for the government to be transparent, and reveal its real policy so that alternative arrangements can be made to avoid disruptions to company operations,” he added.

He said another concern of the employers was that of late, there had been an “unusual increase” in the number of failures among its foreign workers who took the skills test conducted by the Human Resources Ministry. This test, he said, was mandatory for foreign workers who wished to extend their contract for the third year and beyond. “We are not sure if this is another indirect attempt to reduce foreign labour,” he added. He said while the MEF supported the policy of reducing

foreign labour, it nevertheless wanted clear-cut regulations that could not be manipulated. On compulsory induction courses for new foreign workers, he said it would be cheaper for the government to conduct them when the workers arrived here rather than have it in their country of origin. Moreover, he said it was not necessary to conduct such courses for workers from Indonesia or neigbouring South Thailand as the workers were familiar with the local culture and customs. – Bernama

Work on RM1.3b water tunnel to start next month by Husna Yusop

(Nishimatsu) was also found responsible for the collapse of the Nicoll Highway in Singapore in 2004. “If we were not confident that these people can carry out their work as per tender, we would not have selected them,” said Chin. When it was suggested that a local company would surely be blacklisted should it be in a similar position, Chin said: “What is happening in Japan has nothing to do with the local unit having a joint venture with our local people. I don’t see why it should have any direct bearing.”

PUTRAJAYA: Construction work on the Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project will start next month with the RM1.3 billion tunnel job set to begin on June 1. The 44.6km-long tunnel – to convey some 1.9 billion litres of water per day from Sungai Semantan in Pahang to the Klang Valley – will start from Taman Karak, Karak, to Taman Perkasa, Hulu Langat. It is scheduled to be completed on May 30, 2014, together with the other components of the project involving the construction of the Kelau Dam, Semantan Intake and Pump Station and Pipelines. Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui said the tunnel would be able to deliver enough water for Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur until 2025. The contract was won by a consortium involving a joint-venture between Japan’s Shimizu Corporation, Nishimatsu Construction Co. Ltd, UEM Builders Bhd and IJM Construction Sdn Bhd through a letter of acceptance dated April 28 from the ministry. Speaking to reporters after his first official gathering with the ministry staff and witnessing the signing of contract agreement between the four components of the consortium, Chin was asked about Nishimatsu which is currently implicated in a political donation scandal in Japan. He said: “The companies were chosen based on their capability to deliver their job. I don’t think the issue of public confidence should arise. They have given us sufficient assurance that this project will be carried out without any glitch.” It was reported that the company

Project team director Datuk Ismail Mat Noor said Pahang would get about RM80 million a year from the transfer of raw water. On the Selangor water tariff issue, ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Halim Man said the negotiation team had started discussions and they have until June 30 to finalise the agreement. “We had a meeting on Thursday but we cannot disclose the details as it is still under negotiation. However, both parties had a very positive attitude with the intention to resolving this long-standing issue,” he said.

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Cuepacs wants conditions on support staff promotions relaxed KUALA LUMPUR: Cuepacs yesterday called on the government to relax some of the conditions for support staff in the civil service to qualify for promotion. Cuepacs secretary-general Ahmad Shah Mohd Zin said about 176,000 support staff who had served more than 15 years in the same post were eligible for promotion to a higher grade effective July 1, but they would have to meet certain conditions before being considered for this. He said among conditions which the Public Service Department had released via a circular letter were that these officers should have achieved

at least 80% in their performance report in the last three years. They were also required to have passed the relevant Competency Level Assessment (PTK), got the clearance of the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission, declared their assets, shown proof that they had no disciplinary record, and got the recommendation from their head of department. Ahmad Shah said some of the conditions were not really necessary and that there should be flexibility. He added that officers who met the conditions would be promoted on a personal-to-holder basis.

As for the hierarchy, Ahmad Shah said those promoted under the new policy were placed below serving officers although both were on the same grade. On civil servants engaged in part-time work, he said some 20% or 240,000 government servants were now doing such work to supplement their income. Some of them worked as taxi drivers, sales persons, watchmen and petty traders, he added. He advised these civil servants to ensure that they did not neglect their official duties while pursuing their part-time work. – Bernama

(From left) Halim Man, Chin and Director of Shimizu Corporation Yoshinori Tsukahara after signing the contract agreement yesterday.

Tengku Muhammad Faris is acting ruler KOTA BARU: The Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra (pix) has been appointed acting ruler of Kelantan. The declaration was made by State Secretary Datuk Aiseri Alias to enable Tengku Muhammad Faris to perform the duties of the Sultan of Kelantan as required under Article 22A of the State Constitution. He told reporters here that the constitution requires the appointment of an acting ruler in the event the Sultan was indisposed. Sultan Ismail Petra Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra was warded in the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on Sunday after receiving treatment in Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian since May 14. – Bernama

JobsMalaysia to open 22 centres KUANTAN: Twenty-two JobsMalaysia centres will be opened nationwide and are expected to be operational in August to make it easier for job seekers to apply for jobs. Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan said the centres would complement efforts by the 80 Manpower Department offices in the various states, as well as at district level, to help find jobs for the unemployed and those who were laid off due to the global financial crisis. She said the centres, which would be located in public places, like at shopping malls and bus stations, would also serve as venues for employers to advertise job vacancies in their organisations. “Officers from the ministry will then help to match the available vacancies with the job seekers,” she said after opening the International Conference on Human Capital Development here yesterday. About 200 participants from 15 countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Algeria and Pakistan, are attending the conference, organised by Universiti Malaysia Pahang. In a related development, Maznah said 26,862 local workers and 19,580 foreign workers had been laid off since last October, while 7,282 other workers took up the voluntary separation scheme. Of the total, about 7,000 of them had obtained new jobs in various sectors in the public and private sectors, she added. – Bernama

Selangor MB seeks review of laws on public rallies SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government yesterday asked the federal government and the police to review the laws pertaining to the holding of public rallies in the country. Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said a review should be undertaken to specify the criteria and conditions needed to get permits to hold public rallies. “We want flexibility pertaining to laws which allow the people to hold public rallies. We want the police to realise that, in time to come, there will be more people coming to present their case in a collective manner. “For instance, we now have 20 to 30 people coming to the State

Secretariat building asking me to intervene with regard to their land problems. If the rule of crowd is to be followed, even that meeting will be against the requirement of the law (relating to public rallies),” Khalid said when referring to the detention and remand of 16 people, including Teratai state assemblyman Jenice Lee, for holding a candlelight vigil in Pandan Indah on Thursday night. The vigil to protest against the political impasse in Perak, was held outside the assemblyman’s service centre. Ampang Jaya CID chief DSP Goh Lee Fook said no police permit was issued for the gathering. – Bernama