Confusion and subterfuge appear to be rocking the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), as talk is circulating among those in the know of a possible coup against embattled president Hata Wahari.

A source within the NUJ alleged that there is unrest among union leaders, particularly from the Chinese media, who are unhappy with his “antics” since helming the national union last year.

NONE Their displeasure apparently stemmed largely from Hata’s alleged involvement in two projects outside of his scope as an Utusan Malaysia employee - Utusan Rakyat , which was initiated by PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, and his own pet project, Harian Malaysia .

Hata himself announced his plans to run the proposed 24-page Harian Malaysia, pending approval from the Home Ministry, but denied that he is in any way involved with Utusan Rakyat , despite Nurul Izzah’s claims that he had agreed to be their editor-in-chief.

It is understood that the NUJ’s top leadership, sans Hata, held a meeting recently to discuss the disgruntlement against the president, with the possibility of an extraordinary general meeting to call a vote of no-confidence against him on the cards.

NONE NUJ secretary-general V Anbalagan ( right ) acknowledged that Hata’s alleged plans to run two new publications was raised by union executive council members during a management meeting last March 29.

“Seven of the eight office bearers were present, including Hata. The meeting was quite open, they questioned him and Hata clarified that he has no plans to start either (publication). We considered that the issue died there,” Anbalagan said when met today.

Anbalagan said the issue was raised again by a couple of union branches at an exco meeting last Wednesday, where again Hata clarified his position on the matter.

He, however, rubbished claims of a move to call a vote of no-confidence, stressing that it is not provided for under the national union’s constitution.

Hata’s future hinges on domestic inquiry

Anbalagan nevertheless admitted that Hata’s post is dependent on the outcome of his domestic inquiry by Utusan Malaysia .

“Let’s see what the outcome is first, and then we’ll take it from there,” he said.

Hata, when contacted earlier, declined to comment on the alleged coup being engineered behind his back, saying that he is still waiting for Utusan Malaysia ’s management to inform him of their decision.

NONE “The management is expected to make their decision on April 14, but I will only know within one or two weeks when they send me a letter to inform me of their decision. We’ll know the outcome by the end of the month, and we’ll definitely inform everyone,” he said.

Hata revealed in January this year that he was being hauled up before a domestic inquiry by Utusan Malaysia ’s management for his scathing criticism against the paper’s editorial policy.

The senior journalist, who was voted in during NUJ’s annual general assembly last September, has been charged with eight counts of insulting the company’s management and tarnishing the company’s image following his comments which appeared in several publications.

This is not the first time Utusan Malaysia has taken action against an outspoken staff member, having investigated and dismissed former Utusan branch NUJ chief Amran Ahmad on Sept 3, 2009 over claims that he had maligned the company following a report he lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.