Workers protest outside Malakoff HQ after water, electricity to quarters cut

A group of between 50 to 60 workers and their supporters protested outside the Malakoff Corporation headquarters at KL Sentral in the capital in protest after electricity and water supplies were cut to the quarters of three former workers.

Activists claim the utility cuts were an attempt to forcefully evict them from the Windsor Estate in Ulu Sepetang, Perak.

However, in a statement released shortly after the protest, Malakoff Corporation Berhad categorically denied any involvement in the alleged eviction of the ex-workers from Windsor Estate, a plantation which is owned by Malakoff and presently managed by Tradewind Plantech Sdn Bhd (“TPSB”) as the managing agent.

"With regard to the illegal picketing that occurred around Malakoff’s office premises earlier today, Malakoff has reported the said incident to the police for its necessary action," it said.

The picketing group had carried signs and banners and chanted slogans but were unable to get a representative from the company to meet with them in person.

Jawatankuasa Sokongan Masyarakat Ladang (Estate Society Support Committee) national coordinator Karthiges Rajamanickam told Malaysiakini that Malakoff (a member of the MMC Group) which is an independent piped water supplier and power producer, had cut off electricity supply on Wednesday.

"Families are living in darkness as the estate management had cut off their electricity supply on Wednesday," he claimed.

"We sent Malakoff an emergency letter to try and meet today, but despite spending three hours in the hot sun, they refused to meet with us," said Karthiges.

He said that many of the workers at Windsor Estate had worked for nearly three generations at the plantation which was first a rubber plantation, then a palm oil plantation later.

"They have been asking the management to implement the estate workers’ house ownership scheme for many years. Last year they sent another request to Malakoff to call for a meeting to discuss a housing scheme project," he said.

Instead, the workers say Malakoff refused to respond and on July 28, a number of ex-workers were issued a notice to vacate their quarters. "A second notice was issued last week giving the ex-workers one week to vacate the quarters," he said.

Karthiges alleged that the ex-workers were being punished for holding a peaceful demonstration outside the Parliament building last December urging the government to enact an estate housing law to guarantee the workers permanent housing after their contract ends.

Events are being 'misrepresented'

Tradewind Plantech in its statement said the events were being misrepresented.

"The three individuals [...] are no longer workers at Windsor Estate since August 2019 due to their retirement.

"We have, as early as December 2019, given the three respective individuals reasonable notices for them to vacate the premises. However, they refused and continue to refuse to comply with the notices."

Tradewind claimed that due to this, several meetings were held with the respective individuals whereby the ex-workers agreed to vacate the workers’ quarters which are provided as a benefit for those who work on Windsor Estate.

"Due to the continued refusal of the three individuals and in order to protect the interest of the existing workers, the matter was eventually handed over to the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW), Ipoh, to handle," said Tradewind.

"NUPW also had meetings with the three individuals but they continuously refused to vacate the workers’ quarters as earlier agreed and they continued to enjoy the benefits provided for the workers inclusive of free electricity and water," said Tradewind.

Tradewind also denied that the first notices were only sent on July 28, 2020, and August 12, 2020, respectively and that the three individuals were only given one week to vacate the workers’ quarters.

"We had notified the three individuals as early as December 2019 for them to vacate the quarters by January 2020. However, they continuously refused and disregarded our notices," the company added.

PSM secretary-general A Sivarajan called on the Human Resources Ministry to immediately intervene to prevent what he called a "gross injustice" to the workers.

"They should engage with the affected workers to embark on a house ownership scheme," added Sivarajan. - Mkini