It is strange that the Union of Employees in Trade Unions (UETU) would undermine the role and contribution of career unionists (union employees).

As a leader of union employees, UETU president Stephen Chin ought to speak for them, not belittle them as he did in the media a few days ago when he alleged that MTUC presidential candidate Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud was not qualified to speak about union leadership.

Chin had said Syed Shahir was not even eligible to be a member of the Transport Equipment and Allied Industry Workers Union he worked for and therefore it was morally wrong for the union to nominate Syed Shahir to contest against incumbent MTUC president Zainal Rampak.

Yet at the Transport Workers Union (TWU) where Chin is employed as an industrial relations officer, all the principal officers including Zainal Rampak are paid employees of the TWU. None of them are bona fide employees in the transport industry.

This move to disparage Team B, believed to be instigated by Zainal who is leading Team A, shows desperation on Zainals part. He wants to circumvent and win by foul play.

There are specific provisos under MTUC constitution allowing career unionists to participate in the upcoming MTUC Delegates Conference.

Chin himself, even as an employee of DAP service centre, previously represented TWU at the MTUC conferences of the past.