In a statement today, MTUC said Halim did not have the right to make statements to the media on its behalf.

“Halim does not have the capacity or the right to represent MTUC in giving any views or statements to the media, effective immediately,” MTUC secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Mansor said.

He said MTUC would take legal action against Halim if he continued to provide statements to the media, claiming to be the president.

On Sunday, the congress said it did not recognise Halim as president despite the challenger for the post, Jafar Majid, withdrawing from the race.

The MTUC general council maintained that deputy president Effendy Abdul Ghani was the acting president.

Earlier, Kamarul told FMT that the council had decided to maintain the status quo until the next MTUC election at its triennial delegates conference, due later this year.

Halim told FMT that he was extremely disappointed at being denied his rightful post and was considering legal action against the general council.

“I will consider taking legal action against the general council’s decision.

“It is acting like it is more supreme than MTUC’s constitution itself. There is no provision for an acting president in the constitution,” he said.

MTUC, which is the umbrella body for trade unions in the country, held its first general council meeting on Sunday after a 30-month tussle over the president’s post.