MTUC president: We will 'fight to the end' not to be deregistered

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Datuk Abdul Halim Mansor says that the congress will "fight to the end" to ensure it is not deregistered.

"MTUC will do all it can to ensure the organisation, set up in 1949, will fight to the end and die standing for the sake of the workers," he said Abdul Halim.

He added said that MTUC had sent all documents to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) stating that they would be holding a meeting and was shocked to learn that the ROS had issued a notice to them instead.

"When we requested the notice, we were told the earlier letter – which we never received – was rescinded and a new notice was sent out on Dec 18, which we have also yet to receive," he said.

He was referring to a ROS notice supposedly issued to MTUC on Dec 18, asking for an explanation following allegations of mismanagement.

MTUC had said it would carry on its activities as usual until it receives the letter.

However, former MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said notices from the ROS must not be taken lightly as the congress represents half a million workers nationwide.

"I believe the government wants MTUC to continue and such a notice is merely to ensure it adheres to all regulations.

"That said, if MTUC gets deregistered, the implications would be disastrous for workers and MTUC must do all it can to ensure that it settles the matter with the ROS," he said.

Syed Shahir said if MTUC fails to do so, its representatives at major boards representing workers would come into question.

"MTUC represents workers at the Industrial Court, Labour Court, Industrial Relations Department and are also in government departments such as the Employers' Provident Fund, Socso, etc," he said.