The finance minister, human resource minister and the director-generals of labour, trade unions and industrial relations all chose to forgo the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) invitation to officiate at its first extraordinary delegates conference.

"Seems like nobody is interested in NUBE," lamented NUBE secretary-general J Solomon when met after the opening of the conference in the new NUBE training centre in Port Dickson last night.

Nevertheless, the show must go on - NUBE then decided to invite former deputy premier and finance minister Anwar Ibrahim instead to officiate at the conference opening.

The surprise appearance of Anwar - sacked in 1998 and who has since been a vocal critic of the government - was warmly received judging from the floor response during his speech.

'We are independent'

So does this mean NUBE - the richest and perhaps the most controversial trade union in the country - is now anti-government?

"NUBE has never been anti-government. We've never been anti-Malaysian. NUBE wants to contribute [...] for the best interest of the workers in the banking sector," said Solomon.

"I don't see why anyone should get overly excited in us inviting Anwar to our function. Today we invite the former finance minister, tomorrow we may invite the former prime minister. We will be happy with whoever agrees to grace our function."

The unonist said NUBE was not aligned to any political party but would willingly accept help from any group during its times of need.

Govt ignoring unions?

Meanwhile, Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) president Syed Sharir Syed Mohamud said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had never met with MTUC to discuss the plight of Malaysian workers.

In contrast, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad consulted the MTUC on several occasions during his premiership.

"It's not only the workers. There are several other groups whom he had never even acknowledged nor responded to their appeals," said Syed Sharir, who also leads the Parti Keadilan Rakyat Kelana Jaya division.

As the prime minister, Syed Sharir said Abdullah could easily call upon any group should he be concerned about problems they face or issues they raise.

"The government must be proactive in engaging groups who are trying to relay the grouses of the people. Maybe they are unconcerned about whether there is any support for them or not," he added.

In his speech at the function, the MTUC chief called on NUBE delegates to move beyond engaging in industrial relation issues and into national issues that affect all workers.

"Toll, electricity hikes. Inflation. Who else is going to speak up for you?" said Syed Shahrir.

The two-day NUBE conference ended today.