Hundreds of bank workers resumed their noisy protest today after the banks' association failed to adhere to an advice by the government to deduct union fees from their members' salaries, a union leader said.

The demonstrators are members of the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) which is protesting the Malaysia Commercial Banks Association's move in October to stop deductions for union fees from their members' monthly salaries.

They picketed in front of two banks in downtown Kuala Lumpur, slowing down traffic as cars honked in support of protestors who blew whistles, sang songs and played hand-held drums.

Human Resources Minister Fong Chan Onn had last week advised the banks to remit the subscription deductions without further delay.

Union workers who staged protest for two days from last Thursday stopped their action following the minister's order.