National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Hata Wahari will seek the intervention of the Industrial Relations Department under the Human Relations Ministry over his sacking from Utusan Malaysia .

In a statement today, NUJ general-secretary V Anbalagan said that Hata will be filling his application with the department to seek his reinstatement soon.

NONE A reconciliation exercise by an industrial relations officer will follow, said Anbalagan ( right ).

“If mediation fails, the officer concerned will submit a report to the human resources minister, who will decide whether to refer the case to the industrial court,” he said.

Yesterday, Hata received his letter of dismissal, dated April 21, which informed him of the penalty following a domestic inquiry.

Utusan Malaysia

had accused Hata of eight counts of making statements that brought the company into disrepute and suspended him in January.

Hata has 14 days to file his appeal directly to the company. Because the letter was only handed to him yesterday, he has until tomorrow to do so.

Hata still NUJ head

The veteran journalist was hauled to the disciplinary inquiry after a string of statements critical of Utusan Malaysia .

Hata has defended his criticisms against the Umno-owned daily, claiming that its alleged wayward agenda was crippling circulation numbers and the livelihood of its employees were at risk.

The NUJ had also criticised Utusan Malaysia ’s decision on grounds that Hata had made the statements in his position as NUJ president.

Meanwhile, Anbalagan said that the NUJ would call an emergency meeting soon to discuss Hata’s dismissal.

Pending a decision by the council, he said, Hata would remain NUJ chief in line with a High Court ruling that a union officer can keep his post pending a decision by the industrial court.