KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has come a long way since its establishment in 1948 only to throw it all away for the alleged factions which has led to cracks within the organisation.
The recent development has culminated in MTUC placing the fate of some 500,000 of its members from major industries and sectors in the country in tatters.
In a bid to save MTUC, which is being investigated for mismanagement, from being suspended by the Registrar of Societies (RoS), Tan Sri Zainal Rampak, a former MTUC president, has come up with a few suggestions to rescue the organisation.
He proposed that RoS call and supervise a triennial delegates’ conference for MTUC to make way for the election of new leadership in the organisation.
“MTUC is the main umbrella body for trade unions in the country and has a historical role in safeguarding workers’ rights in Malaysia.
“Deregistering MTUC will spell a bleak future for its members.
“RoS should instead punish only top MTUC officials who have failed to carry out their duties or comply with regulations.
“RoS can do so by calling and supervising a triennial delegates’ conference for members to elect new MTUC leaders if there is evidence of mismanagement by the congress leadership,” Zainal told the New Straits Times.
Zainal, who was MTUC president for 19 years, could not confirm when asked if he was aware of the complaints lodged against MTUC.
He, however, suspected that the complaints were triggered due to the two warring factions in MTUC.
He cited an example of the differing views among MTUC leaders over the eight amendments to the Industrial Relations Act 1967, which was recently passed by the Dewan Rakyat.
It was reported that MTUC was expected to know its fate in one week after the Selangor RoS division completes its probe into the complaints.
MTUC president Datuk Abdul Halim Mansor had said the message was relayed to him by the Selangor RoS after a meeting on Thursday morning.
During the meeting, Halim said Selangor RoS director Nurul Azhar Husin confirmed that MTUC had been temporarily suspended until a decision is made in one week.
On Dec 20, RoS said it had opened an investigation paper into complaints of mismanagement against MTUC.
RoS said it had issued MTUC a notice on Dec 18.
MTUC has been given 30 days from the date of the notice to respond as to why it should not be deregistered.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak MTUC chapter fully supported the proposed amendments although Halim had urged the Dewan Negara to reject it.
Its secretary-general, Andrew Lo. said he supported the proposal for the RoS to supervise an election for the organisation instead of deregistering it.
“We fully agree with the proposal for RoS to supervise the next MTUC elections,” said Lo, who is the chief executive officer of the Sarawak Bank Employees Union.