Nationwide NUBE leaders lodge police reports against Saravanan for `intimidation' of unions

KUALA LUMPUR 29 May - All  five National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) branch leaders across the nation, lodged police reports stating the effect of the police report lodged by the Human Resource Minister, Datuk M Saravanan is a way of intimidating the union in executing their responsibilities.

President of NUBE, Tan Eng Hong said, the five NUBE Branch leaders lodged the official report on 27 May, demanding the police to investigate the Minister for intimidating the Union leaders by lodging his report against the General Secretary of NUBE.
 

The NUBE leaders are :

1. Penang/ Kedah/ Perlis Branch – Abdul Jamil – National Deputy President
2. Perak Branch – Mohamad Syukri Mustaffa – National Vice President
3. Kelantan/Trengganu Branch – Wan Mohd Affendi Husain
4. Kuala Lumpur/Selangor/Pahang – Mohd Faisal Husin – National Vice Chairman
5. Negeri Sembilan/Melaka/Johor – Tan Eng Hong - National President

"The National Executive of NUBE takes this police report lodged by the Minister as an intimidation tactic to silence union leaders from raising concerns regarding the housing plight of workers especially during the worsening COVID-19 pandemic," he said in a statement here today.

On 18 May,  the General Secretary of the NUBE, J Solomon was called by the police to give a statement in relation to the police report made by the Minister of Human Resources Datuk Seri Saravanan Murugan.

Saravanan had complained to the police that Solomon had slandered him and misled the public when Solomon made a press statement questioning the Minister Minister's decision to suspend the enforcement of Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) 31 Dec 2021 and further calling on the Minister to retract this decision.

Following this, the Secretary General of NUBE had issued another press statement that the decision of the Minister to postpone the implementation of Act 446 was not in accordance with the Emergency (Employees' Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 ("the said Ordinance").

NUBE alleged that the Minister failed to act in accordance with the said Ordinance which was promulgated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong pursuant to Clause (2B) of Article 150 of the Federal Constitution upon the Yang di-Pertuan Agong being satisfied that immediate action was required to amend the Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act 1990.

READ ALSO : NUBE : Intimidation of unions by lodging police reports against them must be stopped

"It is expressly stated in Clause 1(2) of this Ordinance that this Ordinance comes into operation on 26 February 2021 and Clause 2(2) states that this Act is applicable throughout Malaysia

"In the circumstances, the decision of the Minister to postpone the enforcement of Act 446 until December 2021 defies the Ordinance promulgated by the His Majesty the Yang Dipertuan Agong.

"The NUBE leaders are of the view that not having complied with the said Ordinance but instead proceeding to lodge a police report against the General Secretary of NUBE is an act of intimidation aimed at silencing the union leaders from raising this issue," said NUBE.

In the circumstances said NUBE, instead of the Minister acting on the powers given to him under the said Ordinance in particular the new section 24BA which empowers the Minister to compel employers under certain categories to provide suitable accommodation, his decision to postpone the enforcement of Act 446 is irresponsible and is not in accord with the office he holds. - DagangNews.com