Bank Muamalat northern region’s only Indian employee dismissed for not attending training on a rest day

 

Looking at the circumstances, we believe that Katheriene is a victim of targeted racism as she is the only Indian staff at the bank. The other staff who gave the same reason for not attending the training was not reprimanded by the bank.

 

J Solomon, Hon. General Secretary N U B E 

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad (BMMB) wrongfully dismissed the only Indian employee Katheriene Vimala a/p D Aricasnin from the Kulim BMMB branch by giving the most absurd reason; failure to attend training on her rest day.

Katheriene is the only Indian employee in the whole of northern region BMMB bank branches.

According to the Bank's grounds of dismissal, Katherine was dismissed because she failed to attend the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AMLA/CFT) and Shariah refresher training, which was scheduled on 16th March 2013 (Saturday) at Sunway Hotel, Seberang Jaya Penang.

According to Katheriene, she immediately notified, her unavailability to the officer in charge, and also submitted it in writing. Earlier to that, she also had applied for leave on the 18th of March (Monday) and her leave approved by the bank on 12th March 2013.

She was unable to attend the training as she was scheduled to attend Picket Jelajah, organized by National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) in Kelantan, from 16th March 2013 to 18th March 2013.

However, on Friday 15th of March after office hours at 5.45pm she received an undated letter from Zuraina Harun threatening her with disciplinary action, for not attending the training. In the next few days she was been bullied and discriminated by the HR department and eventually dismissed on 7th of June almost two months later by the Acting Head of HR Rasol Raman Mustapha.

According BMMB, the AMLA/CFT and Shariah training was the last session for the year 2013. However, BMMB held the same training on 22nd March 2013 and 22nd June 2013, which Katheriene has been slotted in as one of the participants, despite her dismissal.

How can the bank claim that the training is the last session for the year, when there are multiple similar training's since then, which she could have attended. The bank’s intention seems to be crystal clear on this matter; deliberately use this as an excuse to get rid of Katheriene.

Why were some of the staff who did not attend the training for similar reasons were not given any show cause letters but Katheriene was given one, and eventually dismissed? Is BMMB’s HR department practicing double standards?

Looking at the circumstances, we believe that Katheriene is a victim of targeted racism as she is the only Indian staff at the bank. The other staff who gave the same reason for not attending the training was not reprimanded by the bank.

The training was held on her rest day. On top of it, BMMB has approved Katherine’s leave, which means, the HR department are well aware of her plans. Missing training on a rest day definitely does not warrant a dismissal.

Or is Katheriene another victim of union busting? Is BMMB using her training attendance as the excuse for a dismissal because she actively advocates unionism? Is this the new tactic used by BMMB to intimidate union officials?

Katheriene has been an obedient staff working for almost 22 years for the bank with an impeccable track record. For all the effort she put in, is this how an Islamic bank shows gratitude?  By discriminating the only Indian staff?