They say it must tread carefully on the issue because, besides workers’ rights, it may also lead to a perception of direct infringement on state rights.
MTUC’s Sabah and Sarawak chapters recently registered objections to a proposal from the union’s headquarters to do away with a representative in Socso for each of the two states, and instead have what it would call a “Borneo representative”.
Sabah UiTM lecturer Tony Paridi Bagang said if this came to pass, it would add fuel to anger already felt by those aggrieved by Putrajaya’s alleged failure to respect state rights.
“In fact, there is a tendency by certain quarters to politicise such an issue,” he said. “This will support the people’s perception in Sabah and Sarawak that their states are frequently sidelined.”
Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya agreed and said the issue could spiral out of control and hurt relations between Peninsular Malaysia and the two states.
“This is a workers’ organisation issue, but people will not only politicise policies introduced by Malaya but also question the issue of representation in the union which claims to fight for the rights and welfare of workers,” he said.
Sabah MTUC secretary Catherine Jikunan and her Sarawak counterpart, Andrew Low, said last week that they were opposed to the idea raised by MTUC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
“We urge our MTUC leadership in the peninsula to respect the Sabah and Sarawak representation on the board. We oppose any idea of a Borneo representative, who will subsequently be someone from across the pond,” Jikunan said.
Lee Kuok Tiung of Universiti Malaysia Sabah said he was stumped by MTUC’s failure to recognise that the issue of state rights was touchy in both states.
“The two states have different setups. How can a single representative speak for Sabah and Sarawak? This will reinforce the Malaya-centric claim. If the matter over contract doctors can be an issue, what more this one?
“How can MTUC consider itself as representing everyone when the representation for Sabah and Sarawak is undervalued? It must relook the proposal.”