Letters to Editor
MALAYSIANS commemorated May 1 recently as the day to celebrate workers regardless of their race, religion, gender, age or background.
In Malaysia, the man who fought for the May 1 holiday was none other than the late unionist and DAP stalwart V. David who once served as the Datuk Keramat, Bangsar, and Damansara MP from 1978 to 1995.
Ironically, it was on the Labour Day that I received information regarding workplace harassment faced by a female employee in a state government statutory agency, the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB).
The 38-year-old former employee who left her job after suffering mental and emotional distress lodged a police report on April 4.
It is no surprise that the case has been classified as a “commercial crime” matter and referred to the relevant department which I believe will not progress anywhere.
Till today, no DAP leader has contacted the former employee or done the right thing. Gone are the days when DAP had the interests of working-class people at heart.
Onus on Penang’s CM to act
The party has become a place for Datuk Seri, Datuk and their children. Last year, the Industrial Court in Penang ordered State GLC (government-linked company), Penang TechDome, to pay nearly RM120,000 to former staff who were dismissed under pressure from a DAP leader.
However, this case involving a woman employee is serious. Despite working for over a decade in what was once a reputable statutory body, she was allegedly forced to “carry shoes”.
When she raised the issue and highlighted her mental state, she was told to “go and kill yourself together with your children”.
Would anyone in their right mind say such things to a person confiding about her mental state?
Of course, expecting the person or persons involved in the harassment to come clean is a no-brainer because these people seem to enjoy the ‘power’ they have.
They know that the former employee cannot bring the matter to the Industrial Court, hence they can simply smile away the complaint.
My question to the Chief Minister (CM) Chow Kon Yeow is as follows: “Will the CM allow this workplace harassment?”
More than a month has passed and the case is already ROA (Register of Actions). The onus to take action in this matter lies with the CM himself.
As the state’s chief executive, he can place those involved in the harassment under suspension and order an internal investigation. There is no point leaving it to the PHEB leadership as some of the commissioners are named in the report.
Does CM Chow dare to take action or rather ‘promote’ the ones involved in the workplace harassment? We shall wait and see.
Satees Muniandy is the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) secretary and former DAP Bagan Dalam state assemblyman.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.
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