Malaysian Trades Union Congress president Zainal Rampak (photo), who made an election pact to resign at the end of the year, is most likely to forgo his part of the deal.

Recent events show the senator and Umno member, who entered the deal with deputy president Mohd Shaffie B P Mammal early this year, is not prepared to abandon his post which he has held for more than 20 years.

It is believed he would announce his decision tomorrow at a gathering organised by the MTUC Selangor Division to show support for his presidency.

The gathering will be held at the Transport Workers Union headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

In a quandary

When contacted today, Zainal claimed he is caught in a quandary. "I don't know what to do at the moment."

"I have been receiving so many letters, e-mails, phone calls and faxes asking me to stay. Let's see what happens in a few days time," he said.

Zainal entered the pact with Mohd Shaffie the National Union of Telekom Malaysia Employees (NUTE) president prior to the MTUC election in May. The latter was expected to challenge Zainal for the post then.

According to the agreement, if Zainal and his team win, he would quit at the end of this year after serving one-third of his three-year term and Mohd Shaffie, who won the deputy president post uncontested, would take over.

Zainal made a similar pact years ago with former MTUC president P P Narayanan before the general council the congress' highest decision making body and Narayanan stood by it.

However, MTUC secretary-general G Rajasekaran (photo) said leadership transition in the congress is not automatic, as the decision to replace a leader lied with the general council.

On the other hand, Mohd Shaffie said he would wait and see if Zainal would honour his part of the promise before planning his next move.

It is speculated that if Zainal chooses to remain, Mohd Shaffie and his supporters would publicly ask the president to account for his actions.

Election strategy

In a related development, some 300 union members are expected to attend tomorrow's gathering to urge Zainal to retain his position until 2004, when the next triennial election is due.

It is learned that several MTUC leaders will not attend the gathering. Among them is Rajasekaran who said yesterday that he wanted to remain neutral.

The key organiser for the event, Samuel Devadason said the president must stay because he was elected by the union's delegates.

The Malaysian Technical Service Union secretary-general said union members want Zainal to give them a "definite answer" tomorrow as they do not want to wait until Dec 31 the deadline for the president to relinquish his post according to the pact.

Devadason described the deal as a mere "election strategy" which they did not give much importance to.

"It's a private deal which should be thrown in the dustbin," he said when contacted later.

He also revealed there were about 40 letters from individual unions nationwide asking the president to forgo his election promise.

Proof of support

Devadason said Zainal felt that "nobody wanted him, so he was willing to go" but now there is proof of support and he must stay.

"We are serious about this. If the two leaders want their deal to be taken seriously, they should get delegates to endorse it at the general council," he said.

Although the gathering is organised to show support for him, Zainal claimed he knows nothing of it.

"Yes, I have received a letter of invitation but I am not sure what the event is about.

"The organisers said they want to meet with me but you know, they can come to my office anytime and meet me," he said.

Asked if he would be present at the gathering which certain quarters alleged was engineered by him Zainal replied: "I am not sure, let's see what happens tomorrow".

MTUC is the umbrella body for 228 unions in the country.