Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR: National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) president Ismail Nasaruddin (pic) is challenging his sacking by Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) in November 2013 at the Industrial Court, where a hearing is scheduled on April 28.

He said he is suing his ex-employer for unreasonable dismissal, which he claimed was following a media statement by the union — calling for the resignation of then MAS chief executive officer (CEO) Ahmad Jauhari Yahya.

“The reason they gave for my dismissal was the media statement against the CEO.

“But the statement was [released] by the Nufam secretariat, not me personally,” he said.

The statement was published in TheSun English daily on Nov 8, 2013, where Ismail was then issued a show-cause letter on Nov 12, 2013.

On Nov 29, he was sacked, allegedly for breaching disciplinary rules under MAS and procedures over complaint regulations in the collective agreement.

He joined MAS about 25 years ago and his last position was chief steward.

Ismail made the application to challenge his sacking under Section 20 of the Industrial Relations Act, where if an employer is found to be in the wrong, they would have to pay 24 months of salary in lieu.

In the media statement, the Nufam had urged Putrajaya to reconsider Ahmad Jauhari’s status as CEO, given his failure in dealing with issues relating to the interest of the cabin crew.

However, the statement was viewed negatively as it had openly criticised the MAS administration. Ahmad Jauhari also faced strong criticism over the handling of MH370, which went missing in March last year.

The financial losses suffered by MAS also turned the pressure on the CEO.

In December last year, Khazanah Nasional Bhd ended speculation by naming former Aer Lingus CEO Christoph R Mueller as the new chief of MAS.

The move was part of a restructuring exercise to save the national airline that has been hit with two tragedies, including the downing of MH17 in July of the same

year. — The Malaysian Insider

 

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 22, 2015.

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