Nufam unhappy over alleged dismissal of steward investigated in sexual assault case

PETALING JAYA: The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) has slammed Malaysia Airlines (MAS) over the sacking of the chief steward before he was charged and tried for the alleged sexually assault of an Australian woman.

"MAS sent him a letter of termination to his home in the Klang Valley two weeks after the incident occurred when he was still in Paris under investigation," said Nufam president Ismail Nasaruddin when contacted by The Star Online.

Ismail said that it is "unbelievable and unacceptable" for MAS to abandon an employee who has been working with the company for 32 years.

"There is still no valid proof, and they left him there for four months. Can you imagine how he is feeling being abandoned by his employer. MAS is completely disengaged from him," questioned Ismail.

When contacted, MAS said they were unable to comment on the matter, but confirmed that the steward was no longer an employee of the company.

"Malaysia Airlines is not at liberty to comment on the matter as it is currently under the judicial purview of the authorities and we confirm that the person is no longer an employee of the company,” said MAS.

Australian Laura Bushney told Australian media that the MAS steward allegedly put his hand down her pants during a flight to France and then pleaded with her not to report him on the August 4 incident.

The 26-year-old said that she was "petrified" when the steward allegedly began touching her under the guise of calming her nerves as she was afraid of flying.

Bushney lodged a police report upon arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on August 5, where French authorities detained the steward. He has been detained in Paris ever since.

Ismail said that the employee has not received any direct communication from MAS since the incident, citing the termination letter as the only form of communication from the company.  

Ismail said that the union's efforts to dispute the termination were in vain.

"We have already filed an appeal to the termination letter," he added.

The union has since referred the matter to the Industrial Relations Department to reinstate the employee and the hearing will take place next week.