Intense lobbying by certain quarters to retain Zainal Rampak as Malaysian Trades Union Congress president who had earlier promised to resign by the end of this year has put many unionists on the spot.

It is learnt that the Selangor MTUC division, whose leaders are closely linked to Zainal, is organising a big do in Petaling Jaya this Saturday to rally support for their president to continue as the congress leader.

It is believed that Zainal (right) himself has engineered the campaigns as a way to maintain his position, which he had held for more than 20 years.

Zainal entered into a pact early this year with Mohd Shaffie, the National Union of Telekom Malaysia Employees (NUTE) president, who was earlier expected to challenge him for the presidency.

According to the agreement, should Zainal and his team win, he would quit at the end of this year <!RM>>

Several unionists, including secretary-general G Rajasekaran, have been officially invited to attend the function as a show of solidarity with Zainal.

But Rajasekaran, well known for his criticisms against Zainal, has declined the invitation to the event, organised by Malaysian Technical Services Union secretary general Samuel Devadason.

"Both are my friends and colleagues. It is not fair that I attend. I want to stay neutral in this affair, so I am not attending the gathering," he told malaysiakini .

Terms of agreement

Samuel was unavailable for comment but he had publicly stated that Zainal should remain as president of the 500,000-odd strong workers' union.

Meanwhile, those outside Zainal's camp want the two leaders to honour their agreement, which they consider "morally binding".

Many unionists felt that Mohd Shafie has honoured his part of the deal when he decided not to contest against Zainal during the elections early this year.

"Shafie has lived up to his promise when he withdrew his nominations in March, now Zainal must decide," said Rajasekaran.

"But it is merely an agreement between the two and nothing can be done if Zainal decides not to live up to his part of the deal," he added, stressing that the Congress' General Council did not endorse the pact.

Others, however, strongly insist that Zainal should stand by his words.

Honour pact

Non-Metallic Mineral Products Manufacturing Employee's Union general secretary S Somahsundram said Zainal must honour the "gentlemen agreement".

"If Zainal had truly wanted to relinquish his post, then he must really do it. People can persuade him to stay but if he has already decided, he must go. There is no two ways about it," he said.

Somahsundram had a fall-out with Zainal last year when the latter sued him for defamation during the height of the controversy surrounding the Employees Provident Fund Annuity Scheme.

Somahsundram had asked Zainal to "shut up or resign" as Zainal seemed to defend the scheme, an optional retirement fund, which unionists claim were more beneficial to insurance companies.

National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industry Workers executive secretary Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, who challenged Zainal at the MTUC triennial elections for four consecutive times, said it is possible that Zainal may decide to keep his post until 2004 despite the deal.

Syed Shahir said that since the agreement was made between two individuals, the duo may 'turn around' and publicly agree instead to announce that they are "cancelling" the agreement.

"That is possible as their agreement was not endorsed by the general council (MTUC's highest decision-making body)," he added.

No automatic transition

There is also a prevailing opinion among unionists for a way out of the impasse by virtue of the clause in the MTUC constitution stipulating that if the president steps down, the person who obtained the second highest number of votes (after him) for the position assumes the presidency.

In this case, it would be Syed Shahir and not Mohd Shaffie who would replace Zainal as Mohd Shaffie did not get any votes since he won the deputy post uncontested.

But Rajasekaran dismissed this opinion, saying that the constitution does not provide for automatic transition of power.

"The power to replace anyone lies with the general council. Nothing is automatic. It has been made that way in the constitution or we may end up with jokers," he said.

Zainal is currently overseas and is due back tomorrow. Mohd Shaffie declined to comment beyond saying that he may call a press conference on the matter soon.