Rajasekaran denies taking side in MTUC leadership tussle
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) general secretary G Rajasekaran says he got himself involved with the leadership tussle to save the credibility of the congress and not to take side.
Speaking to malaysiakini today, Rajasekaran said the five union leaders who wanted to table a motion of no-confidence against him "for not remaining neutral" in the on-going leadership crisis had misunderstood his motive.
He said he had to step in to save MTUC's credibility when the squabble between president Senator Zainal Rampak and his deputy Mohamed Shafie Mammal became public after the former reneged on his deal to step down.
"Actually, I don't mind who leads MTUC as long as the person is elected through democratic process, but once Zainal exposed his secret plan with his deputy, the others were also dragged in. The congress' name was at stake," he said.
Allaying qualms he had 'not been neutral' in the leadership crisis, MTUC general secretary G Rajasekaran says union leaders who threaten to move a no-confidence vote against him had misunderstood his motive.
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) general secretary G Rajasekaran says he got himself involved with the leadership tussle to save the credibility of the congress and not to take side.
Speaking to malaysiakini today, Rajasekaran said the five union leaders who wanted to table a motion of no-confidence against him "for not remaining neutral" in the on-going leadership crisis had misunderstood his motive.
He said he had to step in to save MTUC's credibility when the squabble between president Senator Zainal Rampak and his deputy Mohamed Shafie Mammal became public after the former reneged on his deal to step down.
"Actually, I don't mind who leads MTUC as long as the person is elected through democratic process, but once Zainal exposed his secret plan with his deputy, the others were also dragged in. The congress' name was at stake," he said.
Difficult situation
"If I do not chip in, the public will question the credibility of MTUC leadership. But my move has now put me in a difficult situation," he said.
Zainal announced Dec 21 last year his intention to continue helming the congress till 2004, saying a number of union leaders affiliated to MTUC had asked him to ignore his earlier agreement with Mohd Shafie to give up his presidency on Dec 31.
Rajasekaran denied that he was siding with Mohamed Shafie when he asked Zainal to honour his word so to avoid the controversy that would put the MTUC in a bad light.
"How would people perceive MTUC when its leader fails to honour his own words?" he said.
Principles
"I just wanted Zainal to stick to the principles of the agreement, although I am aware that this is a private matter," he said.
"Things would have been alright if he had quietly discussed a new date with Mohd Shafie before making the announcement," he said.
Zainal, a DAP-turn-Umno member, had promised Mohd Shafie (who is now in Mecca to perform the Haj) to step down before Dec 31 if his deputy does not contest at the congress triennial election in March last year.
Mohd Shafie claimed he could have easily defeated Zainal, who has led MTUC for the past 18 years, had he contested for the number one post in the last election.
The MTUC is the country's biggest umbrella union with 550,000 members from 230 affiliates.
