400 KTMB workers brave heavy rain to picket

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 400 Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) workers braved a heavy evening  downpour to demand their president's resignation Friday.

Led by the Railwaymen's Union of Malaya (RUM), they picketed in front of KTMB's head office along Jalan Hishammuddin at 4.30pm, accusing KTMB president Datuk Elias Kadir of ineffective leadership.

They also called upon Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to intervene and replace Elias.

Members of other unions, including the National Union of Bank Employees and the Malayan Trades Union Congress, were also present at the picket.

Despite heavy rain that started falling half an hour into their picket, those gathered did not leave, and appeared to ramp up their protest by hitting drums and dancing.

Later, a drenched RUM president Abdul Razak Md Hassan said the union, which previously backed Elias, had withdrawn its support for him.

"As president, Elias is supposed to find money and increase business (for KTMB)," he told reporters here.

He claimed that KTMB had been losing money, and that its workers would ultimately feel the effects.

Abdul threatened to mobilise RUM and picket in front of the Finance Ministry if their demands were not met.

Twenty police officers were also present, but did not interfere.