Mohd Khalid Atan is the new MTUC chief, defeats pro-PKR incumbent

Published: Wednesday December 29, 2010 MYT 8:23:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday December 29, 2010 MYT 9:27:57 PM
Mohd Khalid Atan is the new MTUC chief, defeats pro-PKR incumbent
By SIRA HABIBU and FLORENCE A. SAMY

PETALING JAYA: PKR’s top unionists Syed Shahir Mohamud and Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid were defeated in the triennial Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).

Syed Shahir, who had served two terms as MTUC president, lost to his deputy Mohd Khalid Atan by 42 votes.

Mohd Khalid of the Timber Employees Union secured 255 votes, while Syed Shahir who is also the Kelana Jaya PKR chief garnered 213 votes.

Abdullah Sani, who is also the Kuala Langat MP, failed in his bid to secure the secretary-general’s post vacated by veteran unionist G. Rajasegaran.

National Union of Petroleum and Chemical Industries’ Abdul Halim Mansor won the MTUC secretary-general post in a three-cornered fight with Abdullah Sani and National Union of Bank Employees secretary-general J. Solomon.

Abdul Halim, an Alor Gajah Umno member, garnered 187 votes, followed by Abdullah Sani (165 votes) and Solomon (115).

National Union of Telecommunication Employees president Mohd Jafar Abd Majid was elected the new deputy president.

Mohamed Jafar was also engaged in a three-cornered fight with Electrical Industry Workers’ Union secretary P. Maniyam and Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya president Abdul Razak Md Hassan.

Mohamed Jafar secured 175 votes, followed by Maniyam (157) and Razak (140).

Maniyam was in the Syed Shahir-Abdullah Sani team.

Newly elected MTUC finance secretary Awang Ibrahim said it was not a total loss for unionists from the opposition party.

“However, I have a feeling that the current turmoil in PKR may have adversely affected our team members’ chances,’’ said Awang, who is Shah Alam PKR secretary.

He said another PKR member Khir Mansor was elected the vice-president (private sector), while staunch PKR supporter Mohd Rosli Makid was also elected as one of the five private sector vice-presidents.

Abdullah Sani said he accepted the results with an open heart.

“It is the delegates’ choice,’’ he said.

Mohd Khalid had stressed during campaigning that union leaders should not be under the influence of any political party.

Syed Shahir had insisted that political affiliation should not deter union leaders from fighting for the workers’ rights.