Retrenched plantation workers, locked in a long standing battle with their former employer, Guthrie Industries Malaysia, have turned to the Perak state government for help to seek fairer compensation and alternative housing.

Spokesperson for the group, D Jeyakumar, when contacted today said that the state government must take a 'firm and principled' stand on the issue due to recurring eviction problems of estate workers throughout the country.

"The issue of retrenchment and eviction of estate workers will continue for the next several years and their families will be forced into urban slums with scant financial reserves," said Jeyakumar who is also vice-president of the yet-to-be-registered Parti Socialist Malaysia (PSM).

"If state governments give a clear signal that they will not tolerate such a drastic displacement without adequate compensation and/or alternative housing, a major social problem could be averted," he added.

Workers staying put

Today the Ipoh High Court postponed to May its hearing on Guthrie's application for a summary order for vacant possession of the premises of its former workers in Kamiri Estate, Sg Siput. The application is an attempt by Guthrie to evict the workers from their quarters.

Ex-Kamiri workers are arguing that their plight must be considered by the court before any such order for vacant possession can be granted.

These workers, who have been toiling on the land for more than two generations, were retrenched in 1999 when Guthrie, one of the leading plantation conglomerates, decided to switch to oil palm cultivation.

As compensation, Guthrie offered 20 days' wages for each year of service, a paltry RM330 per year of service, which is the minimum specified in the Employment Act.

Unhappy with the offer, the retrenched workers requested for a dialogue and despite 17 letters to Guthrie, the company refused to dialogue with them but instead initiated proceedings in the Ipoh High Court to obtain vacant possession together with costs and damages.

Jeyakumar claimed that the workers also took their problem to Perak Menteri Besar Tajol Ramli Ghazali in August 2000.

"But despite sending 15 letters and going to his office 30 times over the past 40 months, they have still to get an appointment to meet the menteri besar," he added.

Goodwill of company

When contacted, Barisan Nasional state representative for Rapat Setia, Chang Kon You said the government was supportive of the workers' plight but could not compel the company to give them better compensation.

Chang said he had met with the estate owners but they were not willing to comply with the workers' requests.

However, Chang said he had drawn up a proposal where the company would be requested to provide the down payment for alternative housing.

"Everything depends on the goodwill of the company. If they are willing to give a portion of their land to build alternative houses for these workers, the state would immediately approve their request," he added.

Guthrie officials are not available for comments.