Malaysian Trades Union Congress president Zainal Rampak today said he was not aware of the status of Johar Sulaiman, a candidate for the vice-president (private sector), whose last day in service was confirmed as March 31.

Johar will be leaving his job as his application for voluntary separation scheme (VSS) had been accepted by his employer, the Kuantan branch of United Overseas Bank Bhd.

Johar told me that they (such reports) were mere rumours and lies spread by some people who were trying to fix him up, said Zainal.

Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that Johar had received a letter from his employer that his application for VSS has been accepted.

National Union of Bank Employees general secretary J Solomon had confirmed that his union presidents last day in service was March 31.

He told me that he had received the letter from his bank today accepting his VSS application, and his last day will effectively be March 31, Solomon had said.

Notify the congress

The new development had raised doubts over Johars candidacy in the MTUC election tomorrow.

However, an NUBE national executive council member said yesterday on condition of anonymity that Johar should notify the MTUC and withdraw from the election if his eventual departure from his bank and by virtue of that, the union, is confirmed.

It is not proper for him to contest after knowing his status. The decent thing for him to do is withdraw immediately and let someone else take over.

A later replacement for Johar means that the selection process will not be open to delegates, the source said.

Under the MTUC constitution, Johar will need to step down from his elected post should he be no longer a member of his union.