More than 2,000 National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) members mandated a caretaker committee on Saturday to conduct fresh elections in an attempt to end the union's bitter internal crisis.

The bid is being brokered by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) which will assist the 20-member committee in conducting the elections.

MTUC secretary-general G Rajasekaran today said the members unanimously adopted the resolution to select a caretaker committee and to give it the mandate to conduct the elections.

"The committee has 60 days from Feb 14 to conduct the election," he said when contacted.

"Initially, there were 34 nominations but 14 members later withdrew, leaving 20 to form the caretaker committee," he added.

Before general election

He said representatives from the Department of Trade Union Affairs' Shah Alam and Putrajaya offices were also present.

"We were surprised to learn of their presence but it is good that they came because they would have seen for themselves what the NUBE members wanted done to end the prolonged bickering," he added.

The parties involved are keen to see the NUBE elections held before the general election, said to be sometime in late March.

Rajasekaran explained that the MTUC would assist the caretaker committee in the absence of a legitimate exco (several cases are still pending in court) as provided under the Trade Unions Act 1959.

He said the committee would be operating from the union's registered premises in Jalan Ampang which is equipped with a full-time secretariat and readily available resources.

Asked about the group led by Abdul Jalil Hamid currently occupying the premises, Rajasekaran said they will have nothing to do with the caretaker committee or election matters.

No endorsement needed

The MTUC has arranged a meeting between Human Resources Minister Dr Fong Chan Onn and the DGTU with the 20 committee members on Friday in Kuala Lumpur for their 'blessings' before proceeding with the fresh poll.

He, however, noted that no endorsement was needed from the government.

"So far, the minister has been quite supportive of our move to resolve the factionalism within the NUBE as he himself wants to end the matter as soon as possible," he added.

Union insiders noted that the faction led by Muhammad Fauzi Shamsuddin was absent at Saturday's meeting chaired by MTUC president Zainal Rampak.

"I would consider whoever opposing this attempt to resolve the NUBE's internal crisis as no longer interested in the affairs of the union or the welfare of the members," said Rajasekaran.

Long overdue

Met earlier today, J Solomon, the general secretary in Abdul Jalil's group, welcomed the members' mandate which he described as long overdue.

"We will extend the fullest cooperation to the caretaker committee in the running of a clean and fair election," he said.

"We have been calling for a fresh elections since last year, and we are happy that things are finally moving towards resolving the deadlock," he added.

The rival faction was unavailable for comments but today's New Straits Times quoted the group leader, Muhammad Fauzi, as saying that the formation of the caretaker committee was "unconstitutional and smacks of collusion".

He openly rejected the committee on grounds that it was set up "through illegal means" and that the MTUC had "no locus standi" to decide for the NUBE.

Muhammad Fauzi also said that he foresaw further complications with the MTUC's involvement.

The NUBE's leadership crisis entered its third year with no viable solution in sight until now.

The latest move to resolve the long-standing feud comes after almost a year of negotiations, heated exchanges and several memorandums to elected representatives and government leaders, including the formation of a special task force.