P. RAMASAMY wants his debate with Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan on the forced labour situation in the country to be held without any preconditions.

The Penang deputy chief minister said this was important so that the deputy MIC president does not back out of the debate later.

“Even before there is an official agreement to debate, Saravanan is already laying down the conditions that might be used to wiggle out of the entrapment of the debate.

“I hope he does not wiggle out at the last moment by saying that he was not agreeable to the terms of debate,” the DAP leader said in a statement today.

“Let us have an open debate on forced labour without any preconditions laid. There is a need to appoint a moderator and the venue of the debate,” he added.

The call for a debate came as both these leaders had been exchanging words on the issue of forced labour in the country, especially on the matter of the minister asking the US Embassy and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to investigate and inform the government of instances of forced labour.

Ramasamy had then issued a challenge to the minister who accepted it late yesterday.

“I am more than delighted to have an opportunity to explain and educate Ramasamy on the specific matter that he had raised on his social media platform, on my request to the ILO and US authorities.

“As he had stated, I sincerely hope that this will not be a debate per se but more on the sharing of knowledge on the efforts of the Human Resources Ministry and myself as the minister in handling the issue,” Saravanan said on Facebook last night.

He hoped the debate would solely be focused on the issue raised in Ramasamy’s social media posting and will not deviate into non-related agendas.

“(I also) hope this is not just another DAP drama.

“I suggest that a reputable organisation becomes the moderator of this forum. An organisation which is bipartisan politically and is well-versed in matters of labour,” he added.

In welcoming Saravanan’s acceptance to the debate, Ramasamy said the issue of forced labour was a broad one.

“Saravanan might be well-meaning in his pursuit of the campaign to eradicate the scourge of forced labour.

“But unfortunately, given his limited understanding of the phenomenon of forced labour with its varied manifestations, he thinks that it could be eradicated with the right mix of policy and enforcement,” he said.

He added that Saravanan does not understand that forced labour was endemic to the nature of economic production in the country.

“In other words, by calling for the intervention of the US Embassy and the ILO, he might not really address the problem at hand.

“In taking up my challenge to debate him, he even went to the extent of saying that he will educate me in the debate about issues pertaining to forced labour.

“I will see whether he educates me or I educate him on labour matters.” – April 24, 2022.