SHAME! Syed Mokhtar's firm angers unions for punishing staff over political stand

Over forty non-governmental organisations including human rights groups and workers unions have protested disciplinary action against staff of two DRB Hicom companies.

A statement urging the corporation to put a stop to the action targeting 18 workers - 16 from HICOM Automotive Manufacturers (Malaysia) and 2 from ISUZU HICOM Malaysia, both based in Pekan, Pahang who had submitted a memorandum endorsed by the Malaysian Trade Union Congress to one of the candidates there.

"Significantly, the workers were not allowed the right to be represented by lawyers or representatives of the National Union, only by representatives from the work site committee.

"We consider the action taken by the two DRB Hicom companies not only a gross violation of worker rights," said the statement, which called on Pekan member of parliament, prime minister Najib Razak, "to intervene and ensure that the rights of his constituents, as workers and as citizens, are not violated by employers".

Among others, the groups claim that DRB Hicom justified its action against the 18 workers saying they might have given 'false impression' that the company was involved in politics.

Dismissing the claim as "laughable" and "hypocritical", the statement pointed out that the company had encouraged workers to attend a meeting with Najib as the Pekan candidate on April 25.

"Indeed, workers were allowed to go for the meeting during working hours!" it added.

The following organisations have endorsed the statement:

1. ALIRAN
2. Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
3. Asian Migrant Centre (AMC)
4. Association of Maybank Executives
5. Building and Wood Workers International Asia Pacific
6. Burma Campaign Malaysia
7. Clean Clothes Campaign
8. Community Action Network (CAN), Malaysia
9. Dignity International
10. Group of Concerned Citizens
11. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
12. Human Rights Ambassador for Salem News, UK
13. Jawatankuasa Sahabat Rakyat
14. Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Polyplastics Asia Pacific
15. Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan Semenanjung Malaysia
16. Kesatuan Pekerja Pekerja Kelab Semenanjung Malaysia
17. Legal Aid Commission, Sri Lanka
18. MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)
19. Malaysians for Beng Hock
20. Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility
21. Migrante International
22. Migrants Rights Council, India
23. MTUC(Malaysian Trade Union Congress) Melaka
24. MTUC(Malaysian Trade Union Congress) Pahang
25. MTUC(Malaysian Trade Union Congress) Penang Division
26. Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia(NAMM)
27. NUBE (National Union of Banking Employees), Malaysia
28. NUHBRW (National Union of Hotel, Bar and Restaurant Workers), Malaysia
29. Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)
30. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti, Selangor (EMPOWER)
31. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
32. Pusat KOMAS (KOMAS)
33. Sarawak Dayak Iban Association
34. SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia)
35. Tenaganita, Malaysia
36. Think Centre, Singapore
37. Tenaga Nasional Berhad Junior Officers Union (TNBJOU), Malaysia
38. WARBE Development Foundation-Bangladesh
39. Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Malaysia
40. Workers Assistance Center, Inc, Philippines
41. Workers Hub For Change (WH4C)