An opposition parliamentarian today accused Human Resources Minister Dr Fong Chan Onn of 'backstabbing' the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).

M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) made the assertion during the debate on the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill. He said the minister 'back stabbed' the national workers organisation by tabling the bill in parliament.

"I got to know that a delegation from MTUC came to Parliament this morning to meet the MPs. They were not here to show their support to the minister, but to highlight his wrongdoings," he said.

Kulasegaran said the minister had said that the proposed amendments to the bill were put forward after taking into account the views and ideas of MTUC and other NGOs.

"However, I was told that after the first meeting, the minister did not refer to the organisations again to update them on the development of the bill," he said, accusing Fong of 'lying and confusing' those in the Dewan Rakyat.

The MP also said that several parties have told him that some aspects of the bill are against the suggestions given by MTUC.

Kulasegaran also questioned Fong's reluctance to allow workers to form associations and unions even though he attends the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) conference in Geneva every year.

Explaining that ILO advocates freedom of association, he said: "The minister has not implemented one of the core points advocated by ILO. Is it because he is afraid of the workers?"

'Where is your credibility?'

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) called Fong a "liar" for allegedly going against his promise to MTUC.

"During a meeting with MTUC, I was told that the minister promised to withdraw the bill if MTUC and other workers' unions are not satisfied with the bill, but this did not happen," he said.

"You are an untrustworthy cabinet minister if you deny this. Where is your credibility? Where is your trust?" he asked Fong.

Lim also said Fong's decision to table the bill in Parliament without proper consultation with workers' unions will promote industrial tension instead of harmony.

He asked Fong if he realised that the bill, if passed, could cause the country's biggest industrial action.

Lim also criticised Fong's statement that the Industrial Relations Act will promote tripartite action between the government, employers and workers.

"How can you advocate tripartite when you yourself have violated tripartite?" he asked.

"The minister is not acting like the workers comrade. Instead, he is behaving like an enemy to them by tabling a bill that will violate their rights. He doesn't have the slightest feeling of sympathy towards the workers. Instead he is contempt and hostile to them by refusing to meet them," the opposition leader charged further.

Told to resign

Lim also criticised Fong for failing to arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and MTUC. He said it is better for Fong to resign as a minister if he could not perform such a simple task.

Lim added that if the bill is passed using the "brute and blind" Barisan Nasional majority, workers will be mourning during the 50th Independence celebration.

Calling the Industrial Relations Bill the "most disgraceful bill," he suggested for the debates on the bill to be suspended until more suitable amendments agreed by all parties are proposed.

In his winding-up speech, Fong, denied allegations that he had failed to consult MTUC when the bill was drafted. He stressed that he has a record of the dates when these meetings were held.

Asked by Lim to reveal the dates, Fong, after pausing, said: "Many times."

Fong also stressed that he had informed MTUC that the ministry has to make a stand even if the union has any disagreements regarding the bill.

"Most of the time, MTUC will not agree to what the employers want and vice versa. So we have to make our stand and prepare the bill," he said.

The bill was passed after a lengthy debate.