Child Slavery in Malaysia????

It is very easy to talk about 'child slavery' - but is it true? Is there any data on this? Who are the employers of these 'child slaves'? Children at the behest of their parents assisting them - is this 'child slavery'? Plantations usually pay based on the amount of rubber collected...or the amount of oil palm collected. Even, in the case of local Malaysian plantation workers, it was not uncommon for children of the family to assist their parents in their work - so, is this 'child slavery' - I think not.
Sometimes, some groups simply cry "Wolf" irresponsibly - without even having any basis. Note that the report below is really about undocumented Indonesian migrant workers - and the question is where are these 'child slaves'. Do you even have one case of 'child slavery' in Malaysia that you can highlight as an example? Simply crying 'wolf' will affect other rights groups in Malaysia - because when we raise a real 'human rights' violation, then many will turn around and say that it is not true - just someone crying 'wolf"...

If there are cases of 'child slavery' - provide Malaysian Human Rights groups (or the Malaysian Bar or the Malaysian Human Rights Commission [SUHAKAM] or the state government if they are Pakatan Rakyat governments) with details - as to who is that slave Master, where ...etc..

It must also be noted that Malaysia have laws of child labour - and hence even if the authorities are informed about these 'child slaves', I am confident that action in accordance with the law will be taken..

The report claims that there are 'thousands..."...



Security

Indonesia: Rights groups call for an end to child slavery in Malaysia
Jakarta, 18 Sept. (AKI) - Humans rights organisations have denounced the alleged enslavement and exploitation of thousands of Indonesian children employed on palm plantations in neighbouring Malaysia.

"Both Indonesia and Malaysia have ratified the convention against slavery, and both have not acted, allowing children to be enslaved in a systematic manner," said Arist Merdeka Sirait, secretary general of the Indonesian National Commission on Child Protection (KNPA) in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).

"We now demand that Jakarta use its diplomatic channels to put an end to this scandal," said Sirait.

The Forum of Non-Permanent Teachers recently reported alleged child exploitation in the Malaysian plantation hub in Sabah to the National Commission on Child Protection.

Wahyu Susilo, representative of non-governmental organisation Migrant Care Indonesia said that the problem of child slavery is old and that the group had been trying for years to get the Indonesian government to intervene.

"We knew about the problem for many years, but putting pressure on the Indonesian government did not bring any results," said Susilo.

"Jakarta is guilty for not having done enough. But Malaysia is the main responsible partner because the abuses take place in their territory."

The KNPA also said that children are forced to work for long hours, in many cases without pay. They are also forced to live in isolated makeshift shacks without running water or electricity.

Many of the children have never been to school and have been subjected to violence and sexual abuse, said the KNPA.

Official data from the Indonesian consulate in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the Sabah state in Malaysia, says more than 330,000 Indonesians work in at least 103 palm oil plantations in Malaysia. Almost half of them are illegal workers but it's not clear how many of them are children.

by"Charles Hector"