Nube lodges second round of police reports against HR minister for 'abuse of power'

KUALA LUMPUR - The National Union of Bank Employees (Nube) has lodged a second round of police reports against Human Resources Minister Steven Sim for alleged abuse of power.

This time, Nube claimed that Sim abused his powers by referring the dispute between Nube and the Malayan Commercial Banks' Association (MCBA) to the Industrial Court even though the minister was aware that the dispute was still under conciliation with the Director General of Industrial Relations (DGIR).

On April 18, Nube lodged its first police report on abuse of power by the minister when he unilaterally without Nube’s knowledge or consent met with the management of the bank and discussed the Festival Aid 2024 payment which was not in favour of bank workers.

"A dispute is only referred to the Industrial Court if the conciliation has reached a "deadlock" between the parties. In such a case, the DGIR's office would inform the parties that the matter would be referred to the Industrial Court.

"However, the DGIR would not do so if the internal remedies were not exhausted.

"In this case, Nube was not informed by the DGIR's office that the matter was referred to the Industrial Court and Nube was only aware that the dispute was referred to the Industrial Court when it received an email from the Industrial Court on 18 April, 2024," it said.

Nube also stressed that Sim had abused his power by acting contrary to provisions under the Industrial Relations Act 1967.

This is an offence under Section 166 of the Penal Code.

In the statement, Nube called upon the police to investigate the matter as the alleged actions by Sim resulted in about 15,000 Nube members in the B40 and M40 categories and the Union suffering unnecessary losses.

The reports today were lodged by Nube Perak, Nube Perlis, Nube Seremban, Nube Kuala Terengganu and Nube Kuala Lumpur.