In a statement today, MTUC secretary-general J Solomon said doing so would send the message that workers are key to the country's economy and "should never be ignored". "Workers have the power to vote out any government that is anti-labour, and kleptocratic because the workers' voice and strength are sacred and powerful. "We want a government that gives us equal respect in a tripartite body, so that workers can have an equitable share in the wealth of the nation," he said.

According to Solomon, wages are low and workers are becoming poorer, and the situation is compounded by the rising cost of living and the goods and services tax (GST). "75 percent of Malaysians do not have enough savings to tide them over for more than a week without work, and 18 percent of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members will be living just above the poverty line, after retirement.

"Unions are necessary to uplift the socio-economy of the working class, but here in Malaysia, they are being suppressed by archaic laws with no indication of being repealed. "Our pleas to the government to reform the laws have fallen on deaf ears, but when the interests of those in power are affected, such laws are introduced speedily to protect their interests," said Solomon, adding that the caretaker prime minister and his deputy, had failed to respond to MTUC's appeals on various workers' issues.

Three million jobs for whom?

Solomon also noted that the three million jobs promised by BN in its manifesto, in the next five years, is "ambiguous" as it was not stated whether it's for locals or migrant workers from China. He pointed out that the promise of 1.5 million jobs listed in the 11th Malaysian Plan is also yet to be fulfilled. Solomon then alleged that the government also interfered in the administration of MTUC, causing a rift in its leadership.

"Human and workers' rights have been left out of the education syllabus so students, even university graduates, are not aware of their basic rights. "Our greatest wealth is unity in the multiracial country and we cannot jeopardise this rich culture for the greed of power, wealth and under the disguise of industrial revolution 4.0," he said.

"Having considered all factors that has taken place in the last one year and five months, and having seen the deteriorating condition of workers and trade union rights, as an elected secretary-general of MTUC and the chief executive of MTUC, despite having supported the BN government in the past, I am duty bound to appeal to you to change the government," Solomon appealed.