MTUC still stuck in limbo

SUBANG JAYA: Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), which is facing a temporary suspension by the Registrar of Societies (ROS), may have to wait up to two weeks to know its status.

MTUC president Datuk Abdul Halim Mansor said they were hopeful of a positive outcome, following a meeting with Selangor ROS director Nurul Azhar Husin yesterday morning.

“We had our meeting with ROS and our secretary-general explained the issues to the officials. ROS said it will get back to us probably in a week or two.

“In the meantime, we are still barred from having official meetings, to allow ROS room to investigate the complaints against us, ” Abdul Halim told a press conference yesterday.

Also present were MTUC secretary-general J. Solomon and vice-president for the private sector R. Jey Kumar.

Abdul Halim added that it was rather tedious for MTUC to call for its general council meeting as many procedures were required.

MTUC had initially planned to have its general council meeting this Sunday but the suspension from ROS prevented it from moving forward.

Barred: Abdul Halim (centre) speaking during a press conference in Subang Jaya. Looking on are Solomon (right) and Jey.

“We need at least 12 weeks’ notice to call for that meeting so, say, we get approval from ROS in January, the nearest time frame to have our general council meeting will be in March or April, ” he said.

Abdul Halim lamented that as long as they were unable to have its general council meeting, MTUC could not approve any payments with cheques, including for utility bills, as its financial secretary Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani had resigned.

“This can only be resolved once the general council meeting is called and confirms that it accepts his resignation which he submitted on Nov 9, ” he said, adding that Mohd Effendy’s signature was vital to enable payment processes.

Abdul Halim said prior to this, MTUC was unable to have its general council meeting as there were pending cases and appeals in court.

After receiving the verdict from the High Court, MTUC had called for a working committee on Dec 12, which was when it decided to call for its general council meeting on Dec 29.

Recently, a letter dated Dec 16 from ROS went viral, stating that MTUC had been temporarily suspended, pending clarification on certain matters.

ROS said it had received complaints in July that MTUC was not being properly managed, as such, it opened an investigation into the grouses on Aug 29 under the Societies Act 1966.

On Dec 18, ROS issued a notice under Section 13 (2) of the Act, and gave MTUC 30 days from the date of the notice to respond.