May 01 2008
SA Kanapathy founder of MTUC
NewsFocus: Highlight importance of Workers’ Day to Malaysianssource
KUALA LUMPUR: Many Malaysians do not know what Workers’ Day is, says former All-Malaysian Estates Staff Union president Jiwi Kathaiah. He said workers of today were not aware that it was because of the struggles of workers more than 100 years ago that they were now enjoying the eight-hour work day, Sundays off and other benefits.
“The trade unions in Malaysia have failed to highlight the importance of Workers’ Day among workers and the rakyat. It is sad that the significance has been lost,” said Kathaiah, also known as A. V. Kathaiah.
He said not many Malaysians knew that S.A Kanapathy, president of the Pan Malayan Federation of Trades Unions, formed in early 1947 with a membership of 200, was hanged for his fight for workers’ rights.
The federation, formed during the Japanese occupation, later became the Malaysian Trades Union Congress under the British.
Kathaiah, who fought for better wages and other benefits for estate workers from 1971 to 1983, said it was time trade union leaders re-examined their conscience to see if they were truly committed to the cause of workers.
“We do not want armchair union leaders who want to capture political power and titles. We want leaders to fight for workers’ rights and expose the atrocities of employers,” he added.
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