Malaysiakini: What are the major challenges facing the Malaysian trade union movement in the years to come?

Syed Shahir: There are a lot of challenges facing trade unions. It's not going to be smooth sailing, no such thing like cruising in a gondola in Venice. It's going to be really rough. If I can use this analogy, it will be equivalent to a tsunami that can sweep you away if you're not really tough and prepared to face it. The challenge of globalisation is very serious. There is the merger of companies, of banks, of institutions and of corporations. This is happening rampantly and just like that. What will happen to the workers? Assuming that there is no union in those companies or corporations, what do you think will happen to them? We have hundreds of thousands of workers from all walks of life who come to us for help in filing a case seeking redress under Section 20 (of the Industrial Relations Act 1967) for wrongful dismissal. Why do you think? It's because of all these reasons.