[asia-apec 578] The Rag, Issue Number 2 (part 1 of 3)

[PAN Asia Pacific]

*************THE RAG*************
(Resistance Against Globalisation)
The Monthly Newsletter of the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Assembly
Issue No.2, August 1998

 
In this issue: 
-The Impacts of globalisation on Indigenous Peoples 
-Indonesian KFC workers on strike 
-Responses to the crisis in Hong Kong 
-Plantation workers set for September 5 
-Report on APEC (electronic commerce and distance education) 
 
Sarawak Indigenous Peoples' Destiny Dictated by Market! 
 
"Our water sources are polluted and our life is badly affected by the palm oil plantation scheme," 
said one of the indigenous participants to the conference on the "Impacts of Globalisation Towards 
Sarawak Indigenous Peoples", held in Sibu, July 9-11. 
 
The participant was referring to the "New Concept" and "Land Bank's Concept", currently 
promoted by the Sarawak government to persuade indigenous peoples to sign away their lands for 
large scale palm oil plantation schemes. Palm oil is the main export commodity of Malaysia and has 
been very profitable in the world market. 
 
Under the "New Concept" policy, indigenous peoples are encouraged to lease their Native 
Customary Land, their source of livelihood for generations, to palm oil scheme developers for 60 
years. Although the indigenous peoples reserve the right to join the scheme or not, in reality many 
are "forced" to sign contracts through fear of discrimination or the lure of sweet promises made by 
politicians. In Kanowit, a company entered and bulldozed the land first and then threatened the 
indigenous people by saying that if they did not sign a contract they would lose everything without 
any compensation or benefit.  
 
Under the land bank concept, landowners are collectively given a 30%  share in the company for 
the land they "contributed". But the shares are entrusted to government assigned statutory bodies, 
like the Land Consolidation and Development Agency and the Sarawak Land Development Board, 
with a power of attorney. 
 
Participants maintained that with this heavily promoted palm oil scheme, the livelihood and cultures 
of Sarawak indigenous peoples are at stake. The opening up of their land by bulldozers has 
polluted their drinking water sources with yellow mud. With no more forest to source wild 
vegetables, fruits and animals for food and no more land for agriculture, the indigenous peoples are 
left with no choice but to work on the oil palm plantations for approximately RM12 a day! 
 
Even if the indigenous peoples get back their land after 60 years, it will no longer be suitable for 
agriculture, having been destroyed by the extensive use of pesticides on the oil palm plantations. 
 
Participants also discussed the threats of the aggressive encroachment of logging activities and dam 
building projects such as the infamous Bakun Dam and Batang Ai Dam. Participants agreed to 
support the hosting of APPA in Kuala Lumpur and endorsed POASM (The Association of 
Indigenous Peoples of Peninsular Malaysia) to host an indigenous forum at the  Assembly.   
 
The conference was organised by Ideal Time and attended by various indigenous longhouse 
communities and indigenous groups from Sarawak, including Borneo Research Institute, 
Indigenous Peoples Centre of Development, Baram Self Development Association and Sarawak 
Access. For more information about the APPA Indigenous Forum contact: Borneo Research 
Institute-tel: (608)5-438580, fax: (608)5-438580 
 
Colonialism survives on the Malaysian plantations 
 
Over 80 percent of Malaysia's agricultural land is used for plantation crops for export.  For workers 
on these plantations, little has changed since the oppressive years of colonialism.  The only change 
that independence brought to the plantations was new owners.  As one worker representative put it, 
"the managers still wear the short-pants of the old imperialists." 
 
Since independence, the revenues of Malaysian plantation companies have soared.  Last year alone, 
earnings from the major plantation crops, palm oil and rubber, rose by 67 % and 35% respectively.  
For the year ending June 30, Golden Hope Plantations made a profit of RM 541 million, up 32% 
from the previous year.  These profits have not been shared with the workers.  From 1981 to 1990, 
while real wages for workers in the manufacturing and construction sectors rose by 27%, wages for 
rubber estate workers rose by only 2%.  And when the government recommended a small 
retrenchment fund to protect workers during the present crisis, the Malayan Agricultural Producers 
Association (MAPA) was quick to reject it, saying that it would "further increase the cost of 
production,  
making us even less competitive." 
 
The Plantation Workers' Wage Campaign 
 
Many Malaysian plantation workers earn less than RM 300 a month.  Most are paid per day not by 
monthly salary; so on days when they cannot work (due to sickness or the weather) they can't make 
money.  Their jobs offer them no security and they suffer ill health from exposure to pesticides and 
sheer poverty.  Poverty also affects the education of estate children, offering them little opportunity 
of finding other work. 
 
Plantation workers refuse to remain silent about these conditions.  On May 1, 1996, 1000 estate 
workers throughout the country came together to launch a wage campaign.  They demand a 
monthly minimum wage of RM 750, a minimum yearly wage increment of RM 50, an annual 
minimum bonus of one month's wages, and retirement benefits of RM 1000 per year of service. 
 
On September 5, plantation workers will converge in Kuala Lumpur to press for these demands 
and to meet with Prime Minister Mahathir.  People are urged to show their support for the workers 
by joining in the rally.   
For more information, contact the Plantation Workers Support Committee d/a ALAIGAL, 26 A 
Tingkat Jaya 1, Taman Tasek Jaya, 31400 Ipoh, Malaysia. 
 

 
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The Rag is the monthly newsletter of the Asia Pacific Peoples' Assembly (APPA).  All 
organizations and individuals from within and outside of Malaysia that are concerned about 
globalisation are encouraged to participate and join in hosting APPA.  If you or your organisation 
are interested in participating in or hosting or assisting with a Peoples' Assembly event, an issue or 
sector forum, or a cultural activity, please contact the Secretariat for more information.  The 
intention is to create a genuine space to contest crucial ideas and issues in an open and participatory 
way.  Comments about and contributions to the Rag should be addressed to the Secretariat. 
 
If you would like to receive the printed version of The Rag, please send a request by email to the 
Secretariat with your complete address. 
 
The Secretariat 
57 Lorong Kurau, 
59100 Lucky Gardens,  
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
Email: appasec at tm.net.my 
Tel: 604-2836245 
Fax: 604-2833536 
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