MTUC deputy president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani, also president of the Union of Postal Clerical Workers, said all the candidates who contested in the previous election last September will be on the ballot.

The candidates are the incumbent president Abdul Halim Mansor of the National Union of Petroleum and Chemical Industries Worker, Mohd Jafar Abd Majid of the National Union of Telecommunication Employees, and Nor Azlan Yaacob from the Timber Employees Union.

Last year, the contest for the leader’s post ended in a deadlock after Halim and Jafar both obtained 136 votes each. The third challenger, Nor Azlan secured 102 votes.

“At the moment, MTUC has no president,” Effendy told reporters during a press conference in Wisma MTUC.

Moving forward, Effendy said all MTUC statements and letters will be issued by its secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Mansor.

“This is to avoid (MTUC) members from issuing statements that are contradictory to the views of the congress,” he added.

Kamarul was elected secretary-general last year after he defeated the incumbent, J Solomon, in a three-cornered fight.

Kamarul polled 143 votes, Gopal Kishnam Nadesan of the National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers secured 132 votes while Solomon of the National Union of Bank Employees obtained 98 votes.

Meanwhile, on the matter of the Covid-19 vaccine, MTUC urged the government to prioritise workers who are from the manufacturing, construction, automotive and services sector for the second phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, which will begin on April 19 and is scheduled to be completed in August.

He said workers from the four sectors have a higher risk of being involved in Covid-19 working clusters compared with other sectors.

At present, the second phase covers those who are at high risk of infection, such as senior citizens, the disabled and those who have chronic illnesses.