KUCHING: A Joint Special Committee was established for the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) with a clear mandate to organise a Special Delegate Conference to elect new office bearers on February 21, following a High Court Order (agreed upon by the disputing parties).
In a press statement, Andrew Lo, CEO of the Sarawak Bank Employees Union, stated that this Special Delegate Conference was to be held within 90 days from 21 February 2025 until 22 May 2025.
Unfortunately, he said the Joint Special Committee has failed to conduct the conference within the stipulated timeframe. As a result, MTUC still does not have new office bearers in place to carry out its functions.
We have been informed that the Joint Special Committee has issued a statement protesting the government’s decision not to grant credentials to a supposed MTUC delegate for the ongoing International Labour Organisation Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
This is deeply concerning, as the Joint Special Committee has no mandate to nominate officials to represent MTUC at any event or conference. Without an official nomination from a properly constituted MTUC leadership, the government cannot issue any credentials.
“We would like to stress that under the consent order, the only responsibility of the Joint Special Committee is to convene the Special Delegate Conference and manage MTUC’s administration until 22 May 2025. It is not authorised to nominate or represent MTUC at any conference or external organisation, ” he stated.
Such overreach may be construed as contempt of court, and MTUC could potentially face sanctions as a result.
It is essential that MTUC focuses on resolving its internal matters first, to ensure it can fulfil its true purpose — representing the interests of Malaysian workers. Attending international conferences should not take precedence over restoring proper governance within the organisation.
By Connie Chieng