Divisional results to have telling effect on main MTUC elections

comments     Claudia Theophilus     Published     Updated

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Selangor/Federal Territory divisional level triennial conference-cum-election this Saturday will chart the course for the congress main election on March 6.

The MTUC Selangor/FT is the largest division with an estimated 350,000 members, who will be represented by about 600 delegates at next weeks conference to be held at the Transport Workers Union office in Petaling Jaya.

A total of five key positions — chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer — are up for grabs.

For the top post, Non-Metallic Mineral Products Manufacturing Employees Union (Non-Metallic union) president Abdullah Abu Bakar, a division veteran making a comeback after more than a decade, plans to oust incumbent Mohd Razali Abdullah, Printing Industry Employees Union executive secretary.

Abdullahs line-up, aligned to MTUC secretary-general G Rajasekarans Team B, may pose a serious challenge to the incumbent divisional committee.

Mohd Razalis men have the backing of Team A led by MTUC president Zainal Rampak, Rajasekarans comrade-turned-nemesis. The two have parted ways due to irreconcilable differences on how to resolve labour issues.

Proxy fight

Selangor/FT incumbent acting secretary Samuel Devadason, who was preparing the final nomination list and the ballot papers today, said the proxy fight in the division has generated immense interest in it.

That is why the number has rocketed from the usual 100-odd to more than 600 delegates from 56 unions/affiliates, said Devadason, who is part of Team A.

Devadasons arch-nemesis in the coming division election, Harris Advanced Technology Workers Union secretary Bruno Pereira said despite being the largest MTUC division, the last three years have not seen many activities.

The sudden jump in the number of delegates is due to the intense competition between the two sides which have caught the interest of smaller unions in the division, prompting them to send a delegate or two each, he said.

Pereira, a Team B member, feels the mood at Saturdays divisional election will have a telling effect on the final outcome of the main election but declined to speculate further.

When principles are expunged from the game, sentiment usually plays a big part in union elections. But I think that after Saturday, both Team A and Team B will have to rethink their strategy, he said.

Need for change

In an interview with malaysiakini , Abdullah said he accepted the nomination after being told that the division has been inactive for the past couple of years.

Among the numerous workplace-related problems which need urgent attention, he said occupational safety and health top his priority list.

This is the largest MTUC division and is looked upon to enforce and fight for the fundamental issues affecting workers, like the fact that 75 percent of them are still exposed to hazardous material.

Its time for MTUC to ensure that workers in this sector are protected, he said, adding that all unions should go on membership drives to explain the importance of joining a trade union.

On his decision to team up with Rajasekaran, Abdullah said it was because he and his supporters wanted change in the congress.

I am contesting because there is a need to bring about change, not so much for democracy or rights. The division must be seen to be helping the working class here.

Furthermore, Zainal is punishing our union by suing us for RM50 million, he added.

On Sept 18, 2000, Zainal filed a libel suit against the Non-Metallic union and four others for a total of RM250 million, claiming he was libelled by the headline Shut up or step down, Zainal told published in the Sept 6 issue of The Sun newspaper.

Insiders have indicated that it will be a close fight with votes swinging either way because the Team A-Team B alignment at the top has split the support at the Selangor/FT division level, with some agreeing to vote for Zainals team for the divisional chairperson but not the rest.

Pro-worker

In the final showdown next Wednesday, Zainal, general secretary of the Transport Workers Union, faces a determined challenger in the form of National Union of Transport Equipment Allied Industry Workers executive secretary Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud.

Syed Shahir is mounting a fourth attempt, after a near-victory the first time around in 1994 if not for six votes. His two subsequent attempts to win the top post proved futile.

Rajasekaran will face Timber Employees Union general secretary Mohd Khalid Atan for the post of MTUC secretary-general.

Meanwhile, Pereira said Team B was more keen to reform the MTUC, especially with the impending Asean Free Trade Agreement (Afta) which will affect the whole region in general, and Malaysia in particular.

I am not against people who are close to the government, but neither am I anti-government. I am just very much pro-worker, he said, adding that he was optimistic of Team Bs chances based on its consistent performance in the MTUC.

Even if Zainal wins, we will still continue working, he added.



Malaysiakini
news and views that matter


Sign In