The VALIANT

Thursday 30 August 2007

MTUC Warned Not To Become A Tool Of The Opposition

August 29, 2007 22:38 PM

The Politics Of Fear

The government always thinks that whatever dissenting views from the people are always the work of the opposition.

Don't they think that the rakyat are capable of making their own decisions?

They're such a fools themselves to believe a such, that they insulted the intelligence of the people.

This kind of fear politics does not work no more in this modern day politics. It is an outdated, uncivilised political tactics used by desperate politician/(government) to remain in power.

The politics of fear is reinforcing the existing power structure and aggravating the feelings of vulnerability and powerlessness which are the major blockage to progressive politics today. The politics of fear is itself building up the greatest threats to the majority of people’s lives (Blunden 2004).

"The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to." -- Thomas Jefferson



KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- The Human Resources Ministry warned that it would deregister the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and other unions if they became tools of the opposition to overthrow the government.

Deputy Human Resource Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar said the government could do so under the Workers Unions Act 1959.

When winding up debate on the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2007 in the Dewan Rakyat Wednesday, he said the present office bearers of MTUC should understand their real role as lately they appeared to be using the congress for personal benefit and to further their own interests.

He referred to the action by the MTUC in launching pickets at 15 locations in the country on June 25 and Aug 8, which he claimed were masterminded by leaders from the opposition.

Speaking to Bernama later, Abdul Rahman said the ministry did not want, with people with vested interests interfering, opportunities created that will benefit workers be used for political mileage by the opposition.

He said the MTUC now appeared to be focusing only on wages without paying much attention to the welfare of its members.

"MTUC is out on a publicity seeking spree and wants to weaken or destroy the government of the day. Also many of its leaders are from the DAP and PKR (opposition parties)," said Abdul Rahman.

He also slammed the congress for resorting to pickets instead of working hand-in-hand with the government in developing the nation's economy.

He added that ministry adopted an open-door policy with the MTUC and other unions to resolve any problems that arose.The Bill was later passed.

The Dewan sits again on Monday.-- BERNAMA

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