N Siva Subramaniam, former secretary-general of the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP), said provisions under the Trade Union Act clearly state that administrative staff in civil service grades above DG42 are not eligible to be office bearers.

“NUTP members should take legal action in order to put things right in the union. They are entitled to do this. Do not wait for the authorities,” he told FMT.

Previously, FMT reported that under a directive from the chief secretary to the government, an office-bearer in NUTP must be below Grade DG48 and cannot hold an administrative position in a school, district education office, state education department or the education ministry. Any office bearer above Grade DG48 must relinquish their post.

When contacted then, NUTP secretary-general Wang Heng Suan declined to comment.

Siva questioned why some union officials had kept silent and were not speaking up to clear the air on their position in the union.

“I urge Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to intervene.

“These unqualified office bearers should not be spending NUTP members’ money anymore by organising seminars and meetings,” he said.