A special three-member team in the Human Resources Ministry will make a final attempt to resolve the bitter power struggle within the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE), failing which the next move may be de-registration.

This was the message sent out by Human Resources Minister Fong Chan Onn ( photo, left ) after announcing the setting up of the team to be headed by secretary-general Dr Mohd Yahya Nordin. ( photo, right )

Also on board will be the director-generals of labour and trade union affairs respectively.

Fong said the move was to stem the deterioration in union affairs, which has resulted in an impasse. The two feuding factions have been struggling for control of the leadership since 2001.

"I've asked the secretary-general to give it one last try, so that both parties set aside their differences and serve members' interests," he told reporters at his office in Putrajaya after the weekly post-cabinet briefing today.

"Again, we will call both parties to the discussion table within the next few days because the situation has gone too far and we have to put a stop to this infighting."

'Difficulties all round'

Fong said the union has not been functioning properly over the past two years, causing much hardship for its 28,000 members and their employers.

"Members do not know where to go for help and the banks are having difficulties resolving trade disputes because they don't know which group to deal with," he noted.

One group is led by Abdul Jalil Hamid ( photo ) and the other, by former deputy president Muhammad Fauzi Shamsuddin. Both have claimed legitimacy to run the union.

"I hope both sides will see the larger picture and bring the union back on track," said Fong, who claimed that the ministry had members' interests at heart.

"We want what they want. That is why we don't want to give up yet. In fact, if we can get both sides to agree for a fresh election now, I'll do it immediately."

Asked if his hunch that "both sides will come together this time" would be out of fear of de-registration, he smiled and said: "We'll cross the bridge when we get (to it)."

'No vested interest'

Asked about the union's allegations that the ministry appeared to be colluding with banks to split its ranks, an amused Fong said: "This is a very interesting story you are telling me now. Why would we do something like that?

"There is no necessity for us to behave as such because we have no vested interest in this matter."

He also told the NUBE to "look at yourself first".

"Don't lay the blame on those who are trying to mediate in your dispute. Please come to your senses and put the members' interests above yourself," he said.

Yesterday, NUBE deputy president Abdul Zaman Abdullah had filed a report with the Kuala Lumpur branch of the Anti-Corruption Agency against director-general of trade union affairs Zulkifly Abdullah.

Abdul Zaman claimed, with documents and photographs as evidence, that Zulkifly had been negligent in discharging his duties as a government servant, including citing several instances where the latter had allegedly misused his power.

Asked to respond, a visibly upset Fong said: "Whether or not he is negligent, it is up to me. He is answerable to me."

When approached for comments later, Zulkifly flatly denied the allegations of abuse of power, saying it was "only their perception".

Last Thursday, his department had lodged a police report in Putrajaya against the NUBE for alleged financial irregularities involving RM1.2 million. This was discovered by an external auditor engaged by the ministry.

Yesterday, he was called in to give a statement at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters, which has taken over the case.