Malaysian Trades Union Congress president Zainal Rampak, who made an election promise to resign from his post at the end of the year, announced today that he will "continue to lead MTUC until 2004".

In the midst of supporters at a rally organised by MTUC Selangor division, Zainal said tearfully that he had no other choice but to stay on as the request of numerous members "cannot be ignored".

"I don't want to be an opportunist. I have given this deep thought, so for your interest, I will continue as president of MTUC," he told the 100-odd supporters representing about 40 unions, who gathered at the Transport Workers Union in Petaling Jaya.

"I had wanted some time [to think] but people wanted me to give them an answer now," added the long-serving president, who is also a senator and Umno member.

His decision apparently delighted the 100-odd crowd who chaired him, chanting "Hidup Zainal (Long Live Zainal)" several times.

Pact with deputy

Zainal entered the pact with Mohd Shafie B P Mammal 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's 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 lies with the general council, the congress' highest decision making body.

Not perfect, but the best

Meanwhile, at the one-hour gathering, several unionists gave fiery speeches praising Zainal's 'excellent leadership qualities" while demanding that he stays as president until 2004, when the next election is due.

They carried banners and placards with slogans like "MTUC needs your leadership", "Stay, Don't Go" and " Labour movement needs you".

Resorts World Employees Union members carried a 10-feet long banner which reads "On behalf of its 3,500 members, we appeal to Brother Zainal. You are constitutionally elected as president of MTUC. The pact is not recognised by MTUC delegates. There is no reason to end your presidency".

The organisers also handed Zainal letters of support from about 40 individual union affiliates asking him to stay on as MTUC head.

MTUC vice-president Abdul Razak Md Hassan said the question of moral obligation does not arise as the pact, which is of no value, was not endorsed by the general council.

MTUC Women's Committee chairperson Noorlaila Aslah said her section wanted Zainal to stay as he was conscious about women's issues, supported equality between the sexes and pushed for better laws like the proposed 90-day maternity leave and the Sexual Harassment Act.

Noorlaila said "He is not perfect but he is the best".

Malaysian Industry Electrical Union (worksite) president Wan Adnan said union members would "swim and sink" with Zainal.

Sleepless nights

Malaysian Institute of Development Authority Workers Union secretary general Nordin Pilus dismissed widespread perception that the rally was to denigrate other leaders.

He said it was organised to show that Zainal had brought much success to the workers' movement.

A Chandra, a representative of the National Union of Newspaper Workers, said the pact should not divide MTUC into two factions as there were many other issues unresolved within the congress itself.

Earlier, Zainal lamented that he had sleepless nights as the issue of his resignation had 'ding-dong' in his mind for over a month.

He said he had wanted to issue a letter to Mohd Shafie on Dec 31, asking him to assume office on January 2.

Later, he told reporters that the pact was off. "Sudah habis lah (It's over). It is automatic. It is only an MOU (memorandum of understanding)".

When told that he may be accused of engineering support for him to hold on to the helm of MTUC's leadership, Zainal said "They can say anything they like".

Own decision to make

In response to the issue, 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 that nothing could be done with a private pact.

However, he questioned why other members were dragged into the affair, when the two leaders, should decide on their own whether to honour the agreement.

"It is not that Zainal has resigned or handed in his letter of resignation. Then it will be a different story (others can get involved).

"The question of morality is difficult because it is subjective. It was Zainal who made the pact. If someone fails to honour something like that, it is said that his descendants will have to suffer the consequences," he added.

Mohd Shafie could not be contacted for comment today.