Sacked Bank Negara employee sends memorandum to PM to get job back

PUTRAJAYA: A Bank Negara employee who claimed that she was sacked for wearing an anti-GST t-shirt during a Labour Day rally in 2016 has sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister, seeking to get her job back.

Y. Kohila, 43, who had worked in Bank Negara for 12 years, was sacked in July 2017.

Kohila sent the memorandum to the Prime Minister’s office here on Monday (June 11) with about 40 activists from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and the Oppressed People’s Network (Jerit).

A representative of the Prime Minister accepted the memorandum.

“I want my job back. It was an unfair dismissal. There was no evidence to show that I did anything wrong or tarnished the image of the bank,” she told the Star Online.

The former manager of Bank Negara's Museum and Art Gallery claimed that she did not receive any advance notice for her sacking, and was told to empty her place in one hour on July 19, 2017.

An internal investigation was held on May 30, May 31 and June 2 in 2017, where Kohila pleaded not guilty to the three allegations against her.

Besides wearing the anti-GST t-shirt, she was accused of writing two press statements in support of PSM during the 13th General Election in 2013.

“As a citizen, it is my right to participate in civil and political organisations. What I did was my business and I did not tarnish the name of the bank. I did the best in my job,” said Kohila, who has also brought the case to court.

“Most workers in Malaysia are afraid to voice out their opinions openly because they are scared of losing their job. That’s why I am fighting this,” she added.

Kohila later Monday met Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran at his office in Putrajaya to highlight her plight.

The Star Online has requested for Bank Negara’s comments on the issue.