Berjaya: We’re not slave masters

Berjaya denies that it is ill-treating its workers in the Nigel Gardner estate and vows to look into their grouses.

KUALA LUMPUR: Conglomerate Berjaya Group has denied ill-treating and subjecting its workers in the Nigel Gardner estate in Hulu Selangor to slave-like conditions.

During a meeting with FMT at the Berjaya headquarters here yesterday, the group’s general manager Sandy Tham held a slideshow presentation on the facilities at the estate.

She also provided documents to prove that the management was transparent and adhered to stipulated regulations.

Expressing shock over the FMT report last weekend which stated that the workers were living in squalid conditions, she said: “We are a big corporation, and we don’t do such things.”

The presentation showcased how Berjaya, owned by tycoon Vincent Tan, had carried out upgrading works at the estate, from the laying of new roads to providing cleaner water for its residents.

Apart from this, Tham said, Berjaya had always considered the welfare of its workers and their children, by providing mobile clinic services, transport, donations to the temples and schools as well as refreshments for the pupils such as Milo and biscuits.

“The news report gave the impression that we are exploiting our workers,” she said.

Based on the slides presented, the upgrading works at the estate started in 2009, which concidentally was the same year that the Hulu Selangor by-election was held.

Quizzed on why Berjaya, which owned the estate for 13 years, had chosen to start numerous projects that year, Tham appeared stumped.

However, another Berjaya official quickly added: “We became more focused then… prior to that, we were carrying out upkeeping work from time to time.”

In the Hulu Selangor by-election, Barisan Nasional’s P Kamalanathan had defeated PKR’s former strongman Zaid Ibrahim to clinch the parliamentary seat.

Winning the seat, which fell to PKR in the 2008 general election, was considered vital for BN and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Berjaya’s Tan had always been considered a BN-friendly businessman and was often accused of being a crony of the government and having strong political influence.

‘Work without leave for better pay’

On the meagre wages drawn by the workers, Tham said this depended on the quantity of leave taken.

“If they work 26 days straight, they can earn a gross pay with incentives given for attendance amounting to more than RM700 (before deductions)… this is a comfortable income,” she added.

As for the condition of the houses and complaints of the outdoor bathroom doors not being fixed, Tham said repair works were being done in stages.

She also pointed out that some of the residents carried out illegal extensions and this proved to be a problem for the management.

“Apart from this, another problem is the rearing of cows and goats. We don’t mind if it is for personal consumption, but they rear the livestock to be sold for a profit,” she said.

On houses being infested with insects and incidents of snakes slithering into the living quarters, Tham said this could be related to personal hygiene.

“It is up to the workers to keep their houses clean and prevent such things,” she added.

Tham also vowed to look into the workers’ grouses concerning the estate manager, whom the latter accused of numerous misdeeds.

Berjaya would also look into the claim that the sundry shop in the estate sold items at inflated prices and that peddlers were barred from entering Nigel Gardner.

“We will definitely look into their complaints and fix the problems,” Tham said.

After visiting the estate last Saturday, MIC publicity and communication chief S Vell Paari said that he was appalled by what he had seen, and planned to relocate the residents.

Vell Paari said the plan was non-political and invited representatives from Pakatan Rakyat and NGOs to join in the effort.

Tomorrow, the MIC leader would be visiting the estate again to meet the residents to gather their feedback.