BN interfering in MTUC through 'Umno member' president, claims sec-gen

GE14 | BN has been accused of interfering in the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) through its president Abdul Halim Mansor.

The accusation came from the congress' secretary-general J Solomon in the wake of Abdul Halim and him issuing conflicting statements on which coalition its members should vote for in tomorrow's polls.

In a statement issued this evening, Solomon clarified that according to the MTUC constitution, only the secretary-general, and not the president, can issue press statements on behalf of the congress.

“This only proves that BN is interfering in the administration of MTUC through the president, who is an Umno member as he claims.

“Abdul Halim's allegation that 'some online portals manipulated the statement' and that 'the statement was not issued by Solomon' is a clear deception of facts and a misrepresentation,” he said.

Earlier today, Solomon called on the 14 million-strong workforce in the country to vote for Pakatan Harapan.

"Workers have the power to vote out any government that is anti-labour and kleptocratic, because the workers' voice and strength are sacred and powerful.

"We want a government that gives us equal respect in a tripartite body, so that workers can have an equitable share in the wealth of the nation," he had said.

Hours later, Abdul Halim was quoted in the New Straits Times as clarifying that Solomon did not make the statement in his capacity as the MTUC secretary-general.

He also said that MTUC maintained its support for BN and caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"In the statement, Solomon did not mention that he was representing MTUC but instead it was made in his capacity as NUBE's (National Union of Bank Employees) rep.

“If it was for NUBE with its 20,000 members, then he is free to make any statement. It does not represent MTUC," he said.

Abdul Halim also claimed that MTUC's policy required official statements to receive the approval of the general council and consent of the 200 unions affiliated to the organisation. - Mkini