After battling for several months, Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) deputy president Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal said today he has to accept the fact that Senator Zainal Rampak will be the congress president until 2004 whether he likes it or not.

He said he would inform his supporters that the president's post belonged to Zainal until his three-year term expired.

Speaking at a joint-media conference with Zainal at the National Union of Telecoms Employees Malaysia (NUTE) office in Kuala Lumpur, he said he will stick to the announcement made by Zainal o­n Dec 21 that the latter would remain in office despite an earlier agreement between the duo.

"Whether I like it or not, the decision has been made (on Dec 21, 2002). The decision is final," he said.

Asked whether he felt cheated, Mohamed Shafie said the senator's action was similar to "someone who refuses to sell the house despite having taken the deposit".

Prior to the MTUC triennial election in March last year, the duo inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that Zainal would step down by Jan 1 this year and allow his deputy to take over o­n the condition that the latter does not contest in the election.

The senator, a former DAP member who later joined Umno, has been at the helm of the congress for the past 14 years.

Disappointed and hurt

"In my opinion, as a top leader, when he said he wanted to honour his words, he has to honour his words.

When we came up with the MoU, we were not doing it for fun," said Mohamed Shafie, with Zainal seated next to him.

He added that the understanding was signed in good faith, and there was no compulsion o­n either party.

Asked if he was dissatisfied with the senator's failure to honour his words, Mohamed Shafie retorted: "Of course, I am disappointed. If Zainal were in my shoes, he will be equally disappointed."

However, he said the congress constitution stated that the elected office bearer is for a three-year term and that has to be respected.

He said o­n Dec 21 Zainal made a statement that the MoU was not applicable and he wanted to continue to lead MTUC due to pressure from his supporters.

"I told him then I was not happy with that as he should have discussed the matter earlier (before the MoU was signed)," said Mohamed Shafie.

"It really hurt me at that time (when Zainal announced that he will continue leading MTUC)," he added.

Despite the ill-feeling, Mohamed Shafie said he would ask his supporters to accept the matter for the sake of unity and solidarity in the congress.

"The constitution must be respected. Therefore, despite the MoU, I cannot go for coup detat, sack him or whack him (for not honouring his words)," he added.

Although the senator had failed to keep his word, Mohamed Shafie said he did not send any representatives to meet him, call him, or write to him regarding the matter.

However, Mohamed Shafie said he did not want to prolong the dispute as this would put the congress' credibility at stake.

"Both of us have been in the labour movement for a long time, so there must be some understanding between us," he said.

He added that he may also not contest for the presidency in the next MTUC election in 2004.

No comment

Asked whether he had been fair to his deputy, Zainal refused to comment.

When told that even Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad expressed concern over his failure to keep his word, he said: "PM is different. What I am to PM. PM is bigger than me. I am just a small fellow in a small organisation. Don't compare me with PM."

The senator grew irate when pressed further by a journalist and remarked: "Why you point at me about honouring words. There are others who are not. Why don't you ask other people (as well)".

(Do) you think your question is fair (to me)?" he added.

Asked to comment o­n certain quarters labeling him a "munafik" (a Muslim who cannot be trusted), Zainal said being a leader for more than a decade has made him immune to such remarks.

The senator also refused to divulge how he would explain the latest development to MTUC members, saying: "It is not for the consumption of press."

Asked to describe his current relationship with Mohamed Shafie, he said their relationship was "cordial and good".

"Otherwise, I won't come here. We are friends," he added.

The senator also denied that the more than 200 MTUC unions nationwide - have split into two groups.

Earlier, Zainal announced that Mohamed Shafie would be the acting president from March 8 to 27 as the former will be away in Geneva.