It was cool to join any leftist political organisations  in the mid-70's.When I was a student at Sheffield University,England I somehow never joined any socialist movements at the university. My friend used to have the picture of Che Guvera in his room-the symbol of fighters of the oppressed during my time.His famous words:It is better to die standing than live on your knees!Whenever I am  in London ,I went  to listen to fiery speeches at Hyde Park Corner,but that was more for the fun of it than anything else.May be I was too young  or naive at that time (20 years old) to have any political thoughts of my own.When I was in London last month(April,2000),I still took time on Sunday morning to visit the famous Hyde Park Corner for nostalgia sake! Sad to note that there were no more young people there like my student days-only older ones like me.May be the ideological wars have ended! Most of the people at Hyde Park were tourists.One speaker  was talking about the OneWorld Planet and the other was about the conflicts in Middle East.May be the present young generation of to-day could not be bothered about the world  issues  we faced now .They may be too busy working hard to be millionaires before they are 21!Gone were the good old days....that is what people of age are saying,most of the time.

Things may have softened between East and West  since the collapse of Berlin Wall and the USSR;the Labour are embracing the Capital and the Conservatives are  more friendly to Labours.Rails and coal miners strikes were very common in UK during the 70's but I seldom hear in the 90's.The hardcore militants may have mellowed and  faded away with age...

Back in Kuala Lumpur,May Day is our Labour Day.It is a national public holiday-no parades,just one or two speeches to mark the day.To most people,it is a public holiday ,to some it is a day when the nation pays respect to the workers. Everyone,including the employers like me are having a holiday.No major conflicts-both embraced each other,I  think?On the surface of it,I may  be right,underneath I don't really know.Somehow,I still think the employees in Malaysia are still behind their counterparts in the West as far as their welfare are concerned.

Most bosses will declare to the world that their employees are their greatest asset! In reality,it is a great Bull Shit.I knew it for sure because I was once the Chairman and CEO of a company listed on KLSE.Most shareholders and management are only interested to get the biggest profit in the shortest possible time.In the company balance sheet,workers is not an asset at all.The cost for workers are reflected on the P & L,the lower the better.

What kind of future holds for Malaysian workers?I don't foresee any major changes in the next decade,except for knowledge workers.These new breed of knowledge workers will have more negotiating power to even ask or demand equity participation in the company they work.

I have one success story for the record.A company X was set up in 1990 where 60% of the shares are owned by my employees.At its top performance,we made RM 1m profit in a year with a paid capital of RM1m.Everyone was happy when I declared a 20% dividend!When I left the parent company,I had to sell my 10% stake in X for 3.2  times my original cost-a very good return.I hope more towkays out there  could give similar opportunity to their 'biggest asset'.

And at the same time,they can make more money for themselves....

For ordinary workers,it is still mayday,mayday!
 

After May Day: Arrests, Cleanups

           BERLIN (AP) _ About 200 officers were injured in May Day street
fighting between radical leftists and police in the German capital
and hundreds of demonstrators were taken into custody, officials
said Tuesday.
           In London, cleanup crews cleared away the debris of Monday's
violence. Prime Minister Tony Blair condemned the rioting as
``appalling'' and said it must not be allowed to happen again.
           In Seoul, South Korean police questioned 17 students arrested on
the traditional workers' day holiday on suspicion of making or
using firebombs thrown during protests.
           In Berlin's Kreuzberg neighborhood, anarchist youths threw
stones, bottles and fireworks at police, who responded with water
cannons, tear gas and nightsticks.
           Rioters erected barricades on streets and set them on fire. Two
bus stops were destroyed and windows broken.
           About 30 police required hospital treatment, said Eckart
Werthebach, the city's interior minister.
           In London, Blair described rioters who daubed graffiti on the
Cenotaph war memorial and a statue of Winston Churchill as
``idiots'' and ``beneath contempt.''
           ``These were appalling and totally unnecessary actions. This
kind of thing cannot happen again,'' he said. ``There is a right to
demonstrate, but responsibly and within the law.''
           Some of the 95 people arrested in London were expected to appear
in court Tuesday. The demonstrators, who rampaged through London,
hurled bricks and bottles at police, smashed shopfronts and car
windows and trashed a McDonald's restaurant.
           Monday's protest against global capitalism began peacefully with
several low-key events, including a ``Guerilla Gardening''
demonstration in London's Parliament Square, but degenerated into
violence.
           Nine police officers were injured in the British capital,
including one hit in the face with a brick, and 17 civilians were
treated for minor injuries, officials said.