Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 38, Number 13. 12th June 1975

News from Malaysia & Singapore

News from Malaysia & Singapore

Tunku Reveals Malaysian Arms Supplies To Ngoh Dinh Diem

In an article in The Star (28 April, 1975), the former Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman revealed supplying arms to the Ngoh Dinh Diem Regime in South Vietnam.

'I visited Saigon twice during his term (Ngoh Dinh Diem) of office and was decorated by him with Vietnam's highest honour and also by his successor. However, I was so impressed with this man that when the fight against the communists ended in July 1960, I decided to send to him, which I now confess openly, all the arms and war materials and equipment we used against the communists. At the time I denied doing so when tackled, because it was against the terms of the Geneva agreement.'

The Tunku spoke of Ngoh Dinh Diem in glowing terms and referred to him as 'a simple, religious and an honest man, hard to find a Head of State anywhere like him'.

Diem, according to the Tunku '...visited the various ramparts (jungle forts) built to defend the country against the communists and he was very impressed with our plan of defence. He was most impressed with our efforts to win the hearts and minds of the people, same thing in the Mekong Delta and there was much he had to learn from us and put it into practice in Vietnam'.

(2nd June, 1975, Fuemsso News Service)

Dr. Mahathir's Talk In Malaysia Hall (London) Boycotted

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the Minister of Education, gave a talk in Malaysia Hall on the evening of the 23 May. Many students boycotted his talk. The attendance was a poor 40 to 50 students.

The theme of his talk was the December student demonstrations in support of peasants. He castigated Malay students for wasting their time taking part in demonstrations instead of studying. His explanation for the amendment to the Universities and University Colleges Act was to protect the majority of students from being harassed by a militant minority. (More than 10,000 students demonstrated in support of peasants who staged hunger marches in December 1974! — Ed.)

Prior to the amendments to the UUCA, Deans of faculties were democratically elected by the academic staff. The Minister charged that Deans so elected were incapable of making decisions. Furthermore, there was a tendency for divisions and factions to develop within faculties over electing candidates. These problems would be overcome under the new provisions whereby the selection and appointment of Deans are undertaken by the Minister of Education, Dr. Mahathir commented.

Dr. Mahathir observed that many students who came to him to obtain medical certificates before entering university were very friendly and polite to him. However, there was a marked change in their attitude when they had completed their two-week orientation programme. These students expressed hostility and hatred towards him, and Dr. Mahathir claimed that they were brain-washed during the orientation programme.

Some students commented after the talk that Dr. Mahathir is sadly mistaken if he believes that students can be intimidated by repressive measures from championing the cause of justice and democracy for the people.

(2nd June. 1975, Fuemsso)

30-5-75

2000 New Students Take The Oath

More than 2000 students who signed a code of conduct at the University of Malaya today were told that they could leave if they could not keep to their pledge.

Among other things, the code stipulates that the students must obey all laws, including the Universities and University Colleges Act, and accept the decisions made by the university council, senate and faculties.

(For an offence, a student could be liable for a fine of $1,000 or 6 months imprisonment, or both. On a conviction, he is automatically expelled and will be prevented from pursuing his higher education in Malaysia and elsewhere. Refer to 29-3-75 Salient; Malaysian Special).

1-6-75

Razak: Beware of the Party Plotters

Umno members should be on guard against factionalism and conspiracies that can harm party unity. Tun Abdul Razak said yesterday.

He reminded all Umno Youth members that it was their responsibility, and the 'young force' which would take over Umno, to guard and ensure that such a thing did not occur.

He also reminded party members of the need to set aside their feelings of provincialism and self-interest if they were to progress and grow as a nation.

Meanwhile, Selangor Mentri Besar, Dato Haji Harun Idris, has decided to step down as Umno Youth leader and contest one of the posts of vice-presidents at the Umno general assembly on June 21.

So far there are eight candidates including Dato Harun, who will be contesting the three posts.

26-5-75

15 Cents Annual Increment For Workers In Port Kelang

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Manpower disclosed the exploitation practised by certain firms by paying extremely low wages and making high profits. The Deputy Minister, Haji Hassan Adli, cited as an example an industrial company in Trengganu which pays its workers an average of $26 monthly.

He also revealed that a large firm in Port Kelang gives an annual increment of 15 cents to all its workers.

These firms have made excuses to the effect that it is not their aim to obtain profits but that they are there for the purpose of supplying jobs to the people, Haji Hassan explained. He was addressing a meeting sponsored by the Keland branch of Pas.

Haji Hassan stressed that this attitude will not contribute to the social and economic stability of the country ...

He urged that trade unions exercise diplomacy in persuading employers to come to the negotiating table. He said that hasty action would worsen the situation. In the meeting, a woman worker claimed that she only received $70 a month from her factory after working for 5 years, as well as paying for her own uniform and medical expenses.

The case of Port Keland Authority neglecting the lot of temporary workers was also raised.

( Fuemsso News Service)

31-1-75

Retrenchment In Malaysia

Students taking oath (29-5-75).

Students taking oath (29-5-75).

A total of 14,063 workers were laid off in various company industries in Malaysia between August 1974 and January 1975. Of these, 6563 retrenched workers were from Peninsula Malaysia white the remaining 7500 workers were laid off in Sabah and Sarawak. Below is the bread-down of the number of workers retrenched by the various industries:
Type of Ind. No. Workers Retrenched
Electronics 920
Plywood 2129
Sawmill 1422
Textiles 93
Garment 406
Other Industries 1596
Total 6563

A further 2121 workers are expected to be retrenched by the end of March 1975.

( Fuemsso News Service)

13-5-75

The 'Ugly Faces' of Foreign Investors

The Senior Parliamentary (Environment), Mr. Chor Yeok Eng has hit out at some professionals who, he said, has stooped to flattery to serve the interests of foreigners. He said they acted selfishly for their own interests, forgetting Singapore's national interest. Mr. Chor also hit out at those foreign investors or industrialists who, he said, came to Singapore in recent years to escape turbulent situations elsewhere, and had now resumed their past misdeeds such as debauchery, cheating, drug-trafficking and tax-evasion. They also The people must be organised to take action against them or evict them if necessary, to protect their national interest, he added.

(In 1968, Singapore Government passed the Employment Act and the Industrial Relation (Amendment) Ordinance which reduced fringe benefits (including overtime and overtime pay, bonuses, retrenchment and retirement benefits, maternity leave, and sick leave), increased working hours, curtailed the union's right to strike, and gave management sole jurisdiction over hiring, firing and transfers. Obviously, Mr. Chor purposely omits to speak on the role of the government in his respect. After all, the Singapore government merely serves the interest of the foreign capitalists by creating an attractive financial climate for industrial investment, including a wide range of tax concessions, free profit repatriation for foreign investors, cheap labour force, etc.)

14-4-75

The Dying Lighters Down By The Riverside

The once bustling Singapore River may soon turn into a graveyard for derelict lighters because of the downturn in the cargo-handling which resulted in only 40% regular use of the lighters. Lighters, if not used — i.e. left dormant for two months, would begin to rot. As most of the lighters in Singapore are towed by tugs, preference for self-propelled lighters was another reason why the majority of the lighters were not hired by shipping companies, according to some operators.

A spokesman for the Port of Singapore Authority said any boat which caused obstruction to navigation must be removed by the owner.