MTUC SECRETARY GENERAL, J. SOLOMON RESPONSE TO MEDIA REPORT THAT MTUC IS IN A CRISIS FOLLOWING DECISION TO HOLD RE-ELECTIONS
1. The decision to hold a re-election for the post of Private Sector Vice President and the Secretary-General was not a collective decision as expressed by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (KKSM) President Abdul Halim Manson in a press release on Free Malaysia Today’s portal on July 17, 2017.
2. The only collective decision made by the MTUC General Council was in canceling the eligibility of two delegates, namely Kamarul Bahrin Mansor, who is the Vice President (Private Sector) and Mohamed Dauzkaply Nor Ghazali as a member of the General Council. With this collective decision, both Kamarul Bahrin and Dauzkaply immediately ceased to be members or representatives of MTUC.
3. Kamarul Bahrin and Dauzkaply were unanimously disqualified from holding office by the General Council based on strong evidence confirming that they were not the officers or employees of the Unions that they claimed to represent. Both of them expressly admitted to this at the General Council meeting on 16 July 2017.
4. Following the disqualification, Kamarul Bahrin will cease to be one of the Private Sector Vice Presidents with immediate effect. In the event of vacancy arising, that position shall be filled by the General Council pursuant to Rule 10 (8) of the MTUC Constitution between Delegates Conference. However, the General Council on 16 July 2017 chaired by President Abdul Halim Mansor, decided to hold a re-election for all seven (7) positions of the Private Sector Vice-President.
5. Dauzkaply contested two (2) positions namely Secretary-General at the MTUC Delegates Conference in November 2016 and Negeri Sembilan Division Secretary’s position in May 2017. Dauzkaply lost in the election for the post of Secretary-General but won the post of Negeri Sembilan Division Secretary’s post. Therefore, further to his disqualification, a re-election should be held only for the post of Negeri Sembilan Division Secretary’s position.
6. The question of re-election for the post of Secretary-General does not arise as there is no vacancy created by Dauzkaply’s disqualification since he lost in the election for the post of Secretary-General.
7. There were differences of opinion and views expressed as to how to move forward following the disqualification of the two (2) persons. However, the President and his supporters pushed ahead with the decision to hold a re-election.
8. Further, the decision to hold re-election for the post of Secretary-General and Vice-President (Private Sector) was not on the agenda of the meeting.
9. Accordingly, the proposed re-election of the Secretary-General and the seven (7) Vice-President (Private Sector) is unconstitutional.
10. As the MTUC Secretary-General, I have carried out my duties in the interests and integrity of MTUC since elected in November 2016. That is my priority. This includes ensuring that each member sitting in the MTUC is properly qualified. This was what I emphasized throughout the General Council meeting on 16 July 2017. Therefore, I am committed to continue to carry out my duties and responsibilities as stipulated in the MTUC Constitution.
J. SOLOMON
SECRETARY GENERAL
MALAYISAN TRADES UNION CONGRESS
