KENYATAAN MEDIA PSM: 13 OGOS 2024

PSM SOKONG PENDIRIAN PAC- TETAPKAN GAJI SILING UNTUK CEO DAN PENGARAH BBP SEKARANG

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) mengalu-alukan permintaan Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC) untuk menetapkan garis siling bagi gaji ketua eksekutif (CEO) atau pengarah urusan Badan Berkanun Persekutuan (BBP). Rungutan berkaitan pengarah urusan atau CEO sebuah badan berkanun mendapat gaji yang keterlaluan bukanlah sesuatu yang baru.

Pada tahun 2018, arahan daripada Perdana Menteri dikeluarkan untuk menyemak semula gaji dan elaun pengerusi badan berkanun, suruhanjaya dan GLC selepas mendapati gaji pengerusi eksekutif MAVCOM mencecah RM85,000. Baru-baru ini pula, PM Anwar Ibrahim menegur sebuah agensi kerajaan ketika pelancaran Garis Panduan Mengenai Pengurusan dan Tatakelola BBP yang memberi gaji yang keterlaluan kepada pengerusi sehingga RM79,000.

Situasi sebegini hanya akan memburukkan lagi jurang pendapatan dan ketaksamaan antara rakyat di negara kita. Bayangkan situasi di mana seorang pengerusi badan berkanun kerajaan dibayar lebih 50 kali gaji bulanan seorang pekerja gaji minima RM1,500 di organisasi itu ataupun mendapat gaji seorang eksekutif yang bergaji RM3,500 sebagai gaji hariannya.

Penetapan gaji siling untuk sesebuah organisasi bukanlah sesuatu yang baru. Dikhabarkan negara China akan mempunyai penetapan siling untuk gaji tahunan di semua syarikat kewangan yang dimiliki oleh kerajaan. Kita juga dapat tengok terdapat beberapa industri sukan yang mempunyai penetapan gaji siling.

PSM sarankan:

1. Memperkenalkan gaji siling dan struktur gaji pengurusan tertinggi yang berkait dengan gaji minima organisasi tersebut di semua Badan Berkanun, Agensi, Suruhanjaya dan GLC. Gaji pekerja terendah organisasi tersebut haruslah ditingkatkan terlebih dahulu sebelum gaji CEO ditingkatkan.
2. Gaji dan elaun ahli lembaga pengarah dan pengerusi semua Badan Berkanun Persekutuan & Negeri, Suruhanjaya dan GLC haruslah telus dan mudah diakses untuk rakyat dan golongan pekerja menilai.

Badan berkanun kerajaan diwujudkan supaya kerajaan bertindak lebih efektif dan pantas dalam memberi perkhidmatan kepada rakyat dan mantapkan pentadbiran. Ia bukanlah suatu tempat untuk golongan profesional atau ahli politik untuk menambahkan kekayaan diri mereka. Adalah lebih baik untuk seorang pekerja gaji minima ataupun gaji median untuk menerima lebihan RM1 berbanding seorang daripada lembaga pengarah atau CEO. Pekerja biasa pasti akan membelanjakan RM1 yang berlebihan itu untuk keperluan asas dan duit itu akan berada dalam kitaran ekonomi lokal.

Ditulis oleh,

Gandipan
Ahli Jawatankuasa Pusat
Parti Sosialis Malaysia

There has been many comments and criticism about the new Economic Minister’s rationale to regulate rising prices. Rafizi Ramli suggested consumers to cut down on buying chicken in order to lower the prices. His comment was countered today by Centre for Market Education (CME) CEO, Carmelo Ferlito, that our current rise in inflation is actually caused by Malaysia’s expansive fiscal and monetary policies that was introduced to cushion the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic where RM305 billion (23% of GDP) in 2020 and RM225 billion (15% of GDP) in 2021 were allocated for that purpose.

Both diagnosis of the problem are common perspectives shared by bourgeois economists and policymakers where their conclusions fall into one of two camps. It’s either-(1) Inflation is caused by too much money in circulation (citing governments stimulus assistance to rakyat) or (2) Inflation is a result of excess demand in the economy when consumers continue to buy even when prices are high.

According to Rafizi, the price pendulum should have worked as Adam Smith envisioned, when demand increases, price of goods will rise, creating an attractive profit margin. That will inspire more producers to jump into the bandwagon and start producing (supplying) that particular good until its sale exceeds demand, then the price will begin to fall. Prices in an ideal market system are supposed to gravitate to a natural price but this rarely happens in a real market place filled with monopoly and hoarding activity.

We have to take note that inflation throughout 2022 has been a worldwide phenomenon, as we have seen in Europe and the United States. Thus, causes of inflation can’t be concluded in a simplistic manner but it requires inclusion of multiple factors.

The pandemic shock, caused significant increase in prices across the board, when cross border logistics were disrupted and global supply chains failed. The capitalist production system is not built to endure such shocks like the pandemic and climate change. Post lockdown, prices of food stuff increased sharply.

No doubt it was also caused by ‘pent up demand’ where purchases for services and goods that were put on hold during the lock down are being spent now, causing a rise in demand within a short period. As food loving Malaysians, many families started enjoying eating out after they were forced to remain indoors during two years of multiple lockdowns. Thus both increase in production input cost and the sudden increase in demand would have caused the current spike in food prices.

Reverting back to Rafizi’s and CME’s diagnosis, I argue that their simplistic conclusions, would lead to adverse impact on the rakyat. The rakyat, especially the B40, simply cannot change their diet overnight, as chicken offers a cheap source of protein compared to fish. With climate change and reducing fish stock, a fish meal is a luxury item for not only lower income, but also middle income families. It’s easy to advise people that they should look for alternative sources, but communities are to compelled to purchase the choices available to them at the nearest accessible markets or grocery shops. If the market offers no other choices, they will buy the easily available chicken meat in order to provide a balance diet for their children. With no increase in real wages, they are forced to tighten their belt further on other important expenses like healthcare or housing in order to put food on the table for their dependents. Haven’t we heard enough reports of the deplorable state of the working people’s financial affairs like lack of savings for emergencies and overburdening debt?

Carmelo Ferlito’s conclusion too will tend to suggest that in order to reduce money circulation in the market, the government needs to cut back on its cash hand-outs to needy families and maybe also put a brake on minimum wage increase. The simplistic view is that, when people have less money to spend, there will be less money chasing after goods and it will reduce aggregate demand and curb inflation. This too will be a disastrous move on low income families, pushing them further into poverty.

Thus it is important that the government looks at a holistic solution and not quick fixes. In order to ensure the rakyat are guaranteed a healthy diet, food products need to be affordable. We need to seriously enhance our local self-sufficiency and not rely on food imports vulnerable to price fluctuations during pandemic, war (Ukraine) and climate disasters. Wages need to be increased and not curtailed to spur local economy, as working people are consumers that spend on local economy unlike billionaires that invest on some financial speculative instruments for their own wealth accumulation.

Our workers share of the GDP (compensation) is only 34.8% of our nominal GDP for the year 2021, confirming that we are still underpaid for the value we create for the economy. Anwar’s cabinet has to work in coherence which each Ministry complementing each other to achieve their goals. Inflation management, price controls, food sovereignty and poverty eradication mission has to be synchronized towards to common program to uplift the rakyat’s well being ultimately.

Sivarajan A
Parti Sosialis Malaysia Secretary General
27/12/2022

The transgender persons/population in Malaysia are persecuted, criminalised and vilified openly in Malaysia. Many research shows that LGBT people still face high levels of stigma by medical professionals, face increased fear to access healthcare services and such.

PSM would like to condemn police unnecessary new conditions which is making our basic campaigning difficult. Initially during the briefing, we were told that only permits for political parties for ceramahs and the police will approve within a few hours without any delays.

Our experience dealing with the Seremban 2 IPD is that the permits cannot be processed immediately even if we apply for the permits a few days before the date of the of the event. Even on the day of the event, the police told us 2 days ago that permits can only be possessed in afternoon daily to be collected at 5pm daily.

Today we were shocked when Rembau Police says that we need permits even for candidate walkabouts! This is unprecedented! Is this a police state? Walkabout is the most basic of campaign done by parties during election and even this is restricted. We have always told the police to monitor us online as we are very transparent as all our activities are put there but they want to continue to shadow us.

With just 8 days to election, please let the parties to exercise their democratic rights and campaign without harassment and hindrance. It makes a mockery to democracy when even the most basic activities need police permits.

S.Arutchelvan
Election Director
10-11-2022

PSM National Chairperson Dr Jeyakumar has been summoned by Bukit Aman to be investigated based on a police report lodged against former AG Tommy Thomas in relation to a forum “Dark Forces Towards GE15” held on 17 September. He has been called to give statement on the 20th of October 2022

The police action is yet another waste of public funds and reflects the reality of the term dark forces towards GE15.

PSM strongly believes that Tommy Thomas and other speakers are entitled to their opinion and the forum allows for people to pose question and even disagree with the speakers. That is how a mature democracy works. Summoning people who spoke in a public forum will go against the spirit of free speech and freedom of expression as enshrined in our constitution

The police should instead spend our tax money on other better things for the benefit of the people and not entangle itself in political vendetta of certain quarters.

S.Arutchelvan
Deputy Chairperson
Parti Sosialis Malaysia

The PSM Central Committee had an emergency meeting on the 10 October 2022. The following was discussed.

1. PSM is disappointed that the Parliament was dissolved less than 3 days after the budget. It is a mockery of our parliamentary democracy. Besides this election will only be held at Parliament level which means the rakyat’s money will be further plundered because of the political interest of UMNO leaders. A national election at this time will also be a huge distraction to efforts and resources needed to meet monsoon emergencies.

2. Many media have asked us which seats we will be contesting. This will be very much determined by if the electoral pact with PH works out. Since our last meeting with the PH committee on 30 September 2022, we have yet to hear of any outcome officially from the Committee who did say that they will report to the PH Presidential Council.

3. Nevertheless PSM has put forward a very reasonable and minimum request to PH. Besides agreeing to use a common logo, we have asked to contest in the Sg. Siput parliament seat for PSM Chairperson while the other seats requested were seats which are not incumbent seats of the current four PH component parties.

4. Meanwhile PSM will proceed to have its training workshop for its shortlisted candidates and campaign managers on the 15th of October 2022.

5. On the 17th of October 2022, on the International day to Eradicate Poverty, the Marhaen coalition and sectors will also put forward their grassroots election demands to all the political parties contesting.

S.Arutchelvan
Pengarah Biro Pilihanraya PSM.
Timbalan Pengerusi
10 Oktober 2022