MTUC urges PM to end NUBE-Maybank row

MTUC urges PM to end NUBE-Maybank row

By G. Manimaran

September 09, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 — The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) wants Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to step in and resolve the growing controversy between bank workers and Maybank, the country’s biggest banking corporation.

The 50-year-old National Union of Banking Employees (NUBE) is representing some 5,000 Maybank workers who have been locked in a dispute with their employer since June 2009 over bonus claims and the issue over the legality of an in-house union for non-executive personnel.

“We hope the prime minister will intervene to resolve the issues faced by NUBE, we hope the prime minister will act to rectify this situation,” MTUC president Khalid Atan told The Malaysian Insider.

Wading into the controversy today, Khalid said the MTUC views that the federal government should not allow the setting up of an internal union within an organisation when one already exists at the national level.

“We don’t know if there exists loopholes within labour laws [that enable the setting up of an in-house union]. But from a moral angle, it should not be allowed,” Khalid said.

He declined further comment for fear of being charged with subjudice as the NUBE had taken the dispute with Maybank to court for resolution.

A new union known as the Maybank Non-Executive Employees Union (Mayneu), was set up last October and registered three months later under the Trade Union Act 1959 in January this year to represent the lower-level workers.

The NUBE, which has been portrayed as a stout supporter of the Najib administration, released a statement yesterday doubting the PM’s leadership, saying his popularity has been dwindling among the clerical staff.

Maybank is the largest bank in Malaysia with more than 380 domestic and 90 international branches.

The banking union has 30,000 members and alleged that Najib, who is also in charge of the Finance Ministry, had failed to resolve issues affecting workers in the banking sector, in particular those in Maybank, since it was brought to his attention last year.

NUBE secretary-general J. Solomon attributed Najib’s sliding rating among the clerical staff to the widening income gap, oppression of workers and the increasing inflation rate.

“The silence of the prime minister to act on complaints against Maybank, a government-linked company (GLC), will not endear him to the public,” Solomon said in a statement.

“Maybank is boldly and brutally violating international standards of human rights, making a mockery of Malaysian laws, and making wider an already huge income divide,” he added, and warned the union will go on a roadshow after Razak’s prolonged silence over its pay dispute with the bank.

MTUC’s Khalid refused to be pulled into that argument, saying the umbrella organisation supports those that are able to address the demands and problems of workers.

“We support whichever party that supports our workers’ cause, we support the prime minister if he is able to bring about a positive result to workers’ cause and demands... that is our stand. We support anyone who helps us,” he said.

Taken from Malaysian Insider

Umno demands PAS deputy president to return medical claims

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Umno has called on Mohamad Sabu to refund the Penang Water Supply Corpo­ration the RM8,434.05 he received in medical claims.

Penang Umno chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman said the PAS deputy president should instead claim reimbursement of the hospital bill from PAS since he was, by most accounts, representing his party when he suffered the injuries.

Mohamad, who was injured in a motorcycle accident on the same day as the Bersih 2.0 rally, was admitted to a hospital for three days from July 15 where he underwent surgery on his right knee.

He subsequently submitted a claim for the RM8,434.05 hospital bill from the corporation.

Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, is a director of Bursa Malaysia-listed PBA Holdings Bhd, the parent company of the corporation.

Zainal Abidin said it was unethical for a company director to claim medical expenses from his company if the ailment or injuries incurred are not related to his scope of duties as a director.

“Mat Sabu and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should understand that PBA Holdings is a listed company, meaning that the public can make enquiries on their accounts.

“Both of them in the past have questioned other company directors for alleged questionable dealings.

“Now, they must also subscribe to the same principles,” he added.

Lim had on Monday denied that Mat Sabu was caught during the Bersih 2.0 rally.

“He was caught at noon but the rally started at 2pm.

“When he was caught, he was on his way to a mosque,” Lim had said.

Taken From The Star Online