Human Resources Minister Richard Riot, the perfect mouthpiece of Umno, was reported yesterday as saying that the deal with the Bangladeshi government to bring in 1.5 million workers is still valid.
He said that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the two governments is still in force, and that these migrants might come into the country at any time - provided that our government lifts the suspension on its intake of foreign workers.
In Malaysia, those critical of the government believe that this "suspension" is a mere charade to appease the public for a while. The tap might be turned on once things have settled down again.
The elusive Riot also said that not all the 1.5 million workers will be coming to Malaysia, as the figure merely indicates the number of workers who have been registered with the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Bangladesh.
Now, I am not sure which of these two are telling the actual truth. There seem to be contradictions between Riot’s statement and the earlier statements of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
A day after the signing of the MOU, Zahid had - probably on the advice of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak - suspended the intake.
We are not sure why such a suspension was done, but according to many, it is just a drama to show that the government "cares" about the public’s opinion.
However, Bangladeshi Expatriate Ministry acting secretary Begum Shamsunnahar seems to think that the suspension is an "eyewash" and when things calm down in Malaysia, the exercise would thus be resumed.
In Bangladesh, the Dhaka Tribune had reported its citizens as criticising their government for allowing Bangladeshi workers to be mistreated in Malaysia, and without understanding the local conditions and how workers are recruited and remunerated.
Meanwhile, a PKR member has reportedly welcomed the suspension as an indication that that the government was listening to the people and their voices.
I am of the opinion that this is an expression of naivety; I don't think the government really cares about public opinion, personally.
As I have commented earlier, labour migration is not just about the interaction between demand and supply. This is precisely what Zahid, in his simple mind, wants us to believe.
In Malaysia, labour migration during recent times is all about reaping profits by engaging in "primitive accumulation"; in other words, repressing labour without any regard for laws or regulations.
Captive labour force
Foreign workers - be they from Bangladesh or not - are considered as captive labour force that could be manipulated, squeezed and exploited beyond imagination.
Under the present global circumstances of intense inter-firm competition and mobility of capital and investments, some employers - especially in the low-skilled industries - want a captive labour force.
Since such a workforce cannot be obtained from local sources, they invariably turn to the large reservoir of labour in foreign countries.
In Malaysia, there is a close nexus between employers in certain sectors and the government.
Without close cooperation with members of the ruling coalition, it would be virtually impossible to obtain foreign, cheap and docile labour force.
The actual process of recruitment is undertaken by companies that have been registered with the Malaysian government.
Based on past experience, many companies could have registered with the Human Resources Ministry, but the companies that get lucrative foreign labour deals are those who have close connections with local politicians.
It is rumoured that the contract and licence to import labour from Bangladesh had gone to companies owned by a few privileged individuals.
Given the colossal amount of money to be made from these ventures, why is there hardly any transparency involved?
The public, in fact, knows little about these clandestine deals and can only speculate - as there is a huge flow of funds emanating from the importation of cheap labour to local politicians.
Moreover, these workers - from the time of their recruitment and until the time they are taken to their workplace in Malaysia - likely face multiple forms of degradation and unimaginable kinds of exploitation.
Yet, the destitute workers - without any alternative and with the endorsement of their own governments - will continue to go to places where they have been promised "heaven on earth".
If at all the workers were able to "escape" the hell, they would hardly have the energy or interest to tell their brethren back home that Malaysia must be avoided at all costs.
Hence, for the foreign workers who have worked in Malaysia, the country is not "heaven on earth", but "hell on earth".
P RAMASAMY is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang and the assemblyperson for Perai. -Mkini
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