KUALA LUMPUR: Hundreds of low-ranking officers from the Customs Department claimed to be victims of the department's top management after being forcibly transferred.
The transfer orders, affecting a substantial number of Customs officers, were claimed to have been executed without considering the well-being of the officers.
Malaysia Customs Officer Association (KPKSM) president Abdul Malik Mohamed Zin said the issued transfer orders are definitive, with no room for appeals, as outlined in the corresponding transfer directive.
He said the new Customs director-general, was also seen to have a negative perception of the KPKSM leaders.
"The DG verbally instructed the Perak customs director, where I am stationed, to take disciplinary action related to integrity-related offences.
"When no action was taken due to the absence of any wrongdoing, a placement transfer directive was issued on Dec 11, relocating the KPKSM President from the Customs department office in Perak to Lawas, Sarawak, effective Jan 2, 2024, on the grounds of having served (there) for a long time.
"This is an effort to divide KPKSM; we also view it as an abuse of power," he said during a press conference at the KPKSM office today.
Abdul Malik highlighted that the essence of compassion is one of the core principles of the Malaysian Madani Concept, emphasising care and empathy for others, family, friends, neighbours, and the community as a whole.
"This sense of compassion involves understanding the suffering and hardships of others and seeking ways to remedy them. This aligns with the aspirations and struggles of KPKSM, which constantly advocates for the welfare of its members.
"KPKSM perceives this action as an attempt to manipulate power and eliminate the voice of the union within the department.
"Another transferred union leader is the Assistant Secretary-General, who relocated from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Johor," he disclosed.
He said the DG was also alleged not to respect the employer-employee negotiations during the joint department meeting held with the former customs DG, stating that all previous meeting decisions are considered history.
"The meeting is a two-way medium where employees are provided a channel to communicate with management to express opinions and views and contribute sensible ideas for the benefit of the organisation.
"Therefore, KPKSM urges for the cancellation of this transfer directive immediately. We have also sent a letter to the Finance Minister on Dec 26, but have yet to receive any response," he added.