ILR Bulletin, Vol 03 2007
8 February 2007

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INDUSTRIAL LAW REPORTS ISSUE 12 of 2006

AWARDS REPORTED

SUBJECT INDEX

Remedies - Certiorari and mandamus - Dismissal - Exercise of discretion by Chairman of Industrial Court - Termination simpliciter - Whether must be grounded on just cause or excuse - Probationer - Whether entitled to compensation - Whether award neither perverse nor unreasonable
Smart Glove Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Industrial Court, Malaysia & Anor
Raus Sharif J (High Court Malaya) [2006] 4 ILR 2697

Absenteeism - Without consent of company - 14 consecutive days - Claimant issued with show cause letters - No explanation given by claimant - Effect of - Whether charges proven against claimant - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3) & Employment Act 1955 s. 15(2)
Gopal Ratnasamy v. ECX Container Line (M) Sdn Bhd
(Franklin Goonting) [2006] 4 ILR 2970

Attendance - Lateness - No prior warnings given - Whether proven by company - Company terminating claimant’s services - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Mohamad Naim v. Naza Motor Trading Sdn Bhd
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2006] 4 ILR 2992

Breach of company rules and policies - Claimant being on medical leave - Medical leave in excess of claimant’s entitlement under the Employment Act - Medical leave duly submitted to the company - Company not raising issue - Whether there was condonation by company - Company raising issue on contents of medical leave certificate - Whether claimant had shown unwillingness to come to work or perform her duties - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3) & Employment Act 1955 ss. 60F(1)(aa)(i) and 60F(1)(bb)
Multi Asia (M) Sdn Bhd v. Puan Amarjit Kaur Terlok Singh
(Chew Soo Ho) [2006] 4 ILR 2779

Breach of company rules and policies - Dishonesty - Whether charges proven against claimant - Whether there was condonation by bank - Effect of - Whether bank acted reasonably - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Christine Carmen Chartterton v. Bumiputra-Commerce Bank Berhad
(Yamuna Menon) [2006] 4 ILR 2875

Breach of company rules and policies - Medical certificate - Claimant attempting to buy - Effect of - Whether charges proven against claimant - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(5)
Multimodal Freight Sdn Bhd v. Puan Norasliza Shamsudin
(Tan Yeak Hui) [2006] 4 ILR 2891

Breach of company rules and policies - Misappropriation of funds - Forgery of signature on cheques - Fraudulent withdrawal of funds - Effect of - Intention of claimant - Whether charges proven against claimant - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Anita Joshi Raj Kumar Joshi v. Affin Bank Bhd
(P Iruthayaraj D Pappusamy) [2006] 4 ILR 2760

Breach of company rules and policies - Negligence of claimant - Shortfall in petty cash funds - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3), 30(5)
Multimodal Freight Sdn Bhd v. Puan Norasliza Shamsudin
(Tan Yeak Hui) [2006] 4 ILR 2891

Breach of company rules and policies - Negligence - Cutting sheets to wrong specifications - Effect of - Whether claimant’s past offences relevant - Effect of - Whether charge proven against claimant - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Shamsudin Hashim v. Associated Steel Industries (M) Sdn Bhd
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2006] 4 ILR 2922

Breach of company rules and policies - Negligence - Whether claimant’s actions done with approval of employer - Conduct of employer - Claimant acting in excess of authority and outside job functions - Trying to cover up mistake by using company property - Effect of - Whether undertaking given by claimant to the company was given carelessly - Conduct of claimant - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
The Straits Trading Company Limited & STC Realty (BW) Sdn Bhd v. Ong Wan Chin
(Chew Soo Ho) [2006] 4 ILR 2706

Breach of company rules and policies - Whether negligence/carelessness - Failure to follow internal procedures of the bank - Whether bank procedures were ambiguous - Effect of - Whether proven by company - Whether show cause letter issued mala fide - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(5)
Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd v. Lily Tiu Lay Lay
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2006] 4 ILR 2851

Constructive dismissal - Change in job functions - Moved to similar position of separate legal entity - Whether within letter of appointment and job scope of claimant - Whether fundamental breach of terms of employment - Effect of - Whether constructive dismissal proven - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Puan Wong Yim Cheng v. Chase Perdana Berhad
(Susila Sithamparam) [2006] 4 ILR 2981

Constructive dismissal - Company leasing business to separate legal entity - Claimants given transfer orders to third party company - No privity of contract - Effect of - Conduct of company - Whether guilty of mala fides - Whether proven - Whether constructive dismissal proven - Whether fundamental breach of terms of employment - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Ocean Capital Berhad v. Tan Hock & Ors & Another Case
(Franklin Goonting) [2006] 4 ILR 2827

Insubordination - Failure to comply with transfer order - Whether mala fides by company existed - Reasons for transfer given by company - Effect of - Claimant putting self interest first - Effect of - Claimant union member - Conduct of company - Whether charges proven against claimant - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Hotel Excelsior (M) Sdn Bhd v. Gurmukh Singh Nand Singh
(Choong Siew Khim) [2006] 4 ILR 2906

Misconduct - Leaving the workplace without permission - Whether constitutes misconduct - Company terminating claimant’s services - Claimant’s colleagues committing same misconduct but not dismissed - Whether punishment meted out on claimant too harsh - Effect of - Whether company acted arbitrarily - Claimant’s years of service not considered - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(1) & 30(5)
Tuban @ Tuba AK Ambing v. Sistem Penerbangan Malaysia
(Muniandy Kannyappan) [2006] 4 ILR 2743

Notice of termination - Forced resignation - Whether element of coercion present - Whether claimant was under threat - Whether proven - Conduct of claimant - Resignation letter prepared by company - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3) & Evidence Act 1950, s. 114(g)
Abdul Liel Hawa Hj Abdul Hamid v. Philip Morris (M) Sdn Bhd
(P Iruthayaraj D Pappusamy) [2006] 4 ILR 2813

Notice of termination - Immediate termination - Due to globalized restructuring exercise - Whether intention of company was mala fide - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) and 30(5)
Leong Siew Foon v. Alphasem Asia Ltd
(Mohd Amin Firdaus Abdullah) [2006] 4 ILR 2805

Notice of termination - Inadequate notice - Termination letter handed earlier than effective date but later than date in letter - Effect of - Whether valid - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Multi Asia (M) Sdn Bhd v. Puan Amarjit Kaur Terlok Singh
(Chew Soo Ho) [2006] 4 ILR 2779

Notice of termination - No reasons stipulated for termination - Reasons for termination stipulated in an internal memo of the company - Effect of - Whether valid - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Mohamad Naim v. Naza Motor Trading Sdn Bhd
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2006] 4 ILR 2992

Performance - Unsatisfactory performance - No prior warnings given - No assessment or review conducted - Whether proven by company - Company terminating claimant’s services - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Multi Asia (M) Sdn Bhd v. Puan Amarjit Kaur Terlok Singh
(Chew Soo Ho) [2006] 4 ILR 2779

Probationer - Insufficient notice of termination given - Terms of letter of appointment not complied with - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Employment Act 1955 ss. 12(1) and 12(2)
Multimodal Freight Sdn Bhd v. Puan Norasliza Shamsudin
(Tan Yeak Hui) [2006] 4 ILR 2891

Probationer - Termination pursuant to letter of appointment - Claimant questioning immediate superiors orders - Whether constituted breach going to root of employment contract - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20 (1) & 20(3)
Mohamad Naim v. Naza Motor Trading Sdn Bhd
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2006] 4 ILR 2992

Retrenchment - Redundancy - Selection for redundancy - Whether LIFO principles applicable - Claimant in sole category of employment - Effect of - Code of conduct for Industrial Harmony - Whether applicable - Whether has legal force - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Kensains Sdn Bhd v. Loo Yeo Ming
(Franklin Goonting) [2006] 4 ILR 2954

Retrenchment - Reorganisation & restructuring of business - Company facing financial difficulties - Whether proven - Company hiring temporary workers to replace claimant - Attempts taken by company to contact claimant - Unsuccessful - Whether company’s actions bona fide whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Kensains Sdn Bhd v. Loo Yeo Ming
(Franklin Goonting) [2006] 4 ILR 2954

Absence off - No charges levelled against claimant - Claimant objecting to charges - Objection not stipulated in pleadings before court - Whether claimant’s objections to charges should be allowed - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
The Straits Trading Company Limited & Stc Realty (Bw) Sdn Bhd v. Ong Wan Chin
(Chew Soo Ho) [2006] 4 ILR 2706

Absence of - Whether claimant should have been given an opportunity to defend himself or make representations in his defence - Whether the decision to dismiss the claimant was arbitrary and capricious - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3) & Employment Act 1955 s. 14(1)
Mohamad Naim v. Naza Motor Trading Sdn Bhd
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2006] 4 ILR 2992

Procedural impropriety - Company taking into account claimant’s previous misconduct which had already been dealt with - Whether correct process - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(1) & 30(5)
Tuban @ Tuba AK Ambing v. Sistem Penerbangan Malaysia
(Muniandy Kannyappan) [2006] 4 ILR 2743

Procedural Impropriety - Findings of the domestic inquiry - Claimant appealing against findings - Claimant’s plea not considered - Not complying with company’s optional grievance process - Effect of - Whether rules of natural justice breached - Whether claimant denied substantive justice - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(1) & 30(5)
Tuban @ Tuba AK Ambing v. Sistem Penerbangan Malaysia
(Muniandy Kannyappan) [2006] 4 ILR 2743

Procedural impropriety - Notes of inquiry - Bank calling witnesses not related to charge preferred against claimant - Effect of - Whether renders Domestic Inquiry defective - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Christine Carmen Chartterton v. Bumiputra-commerce Bank Berhad
(Yamuna Menon) [2006] 4 ILR 2875

Burden of proof - Allegations of dishonesty in dismissal cases - Civil standard of proof - Balance of probabilities - Whether proven - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Christine Carmen Chartterton v. Bumiputra-Commerce Bank Berhad
(Yamuna Menon) [2006] 4 ILR 2875

Documentary evidence - Admission of - Maker not called - Whether admissible as evidence - Evidence Act 1950 ss. 73(A)(1), 73(A)(2), 103, 114(g)
Multimodal Freight Sdn Bhd v. Puan Norasliza Shamsudin
(Tan Yeak Hui) [2006] 4 ILR 2891

Documentary evidence - Findings of domestic inquiry - Failure to refer - Effect of - Whether hearing should be conducted de novo - Whether rules of natural justice complied with - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(5)
Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd v. Lily Tiu Lay Lay
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2006] 4 ILR 2851

Documentary evidence - Notes of domestic inquiry - Validity not challenged - Whether can be used where domestic inquiry rendered defective - To what extent can it be used - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Christine Carmen Chartterton v. Bumiputra-Commerce Bank Berhad
(Yamuna Menon) [2006] 4 ILR 2875

Standard of proof - Theft - Balance of probabilities - Test to be applied - Reasonableness on the part of the employer - Whether satisfied - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Anita Joshi Raj Kumar Joshi v. Affin Bank Bhd
(P Iruthayaraj D Pappusamy) [2006] 4 ILR 2760

Witness - Conflicting evidence - Given by claimant - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3), 30(5)
Multimodal Freight Sdn Bhd v. Puan Norasliza Shamsudin
(Tan Yeak Hui) [2006] 4 ILR 2891

Witness - Material contradictions and inconsistencies - Claimant coming across as being untruthful and unreliable - Claimant creating confusion vide evidence - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse – Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Gopal Ratnasamy v. ECX Container Line (M) Sdn Bhd
(Franklin Goonting) [2006] 4 ILR 2970

Action - Previous settlement by parties in Labour Department on payment of salary in lieu of notice - Whether claimant estopped or barred from bringing claim before court - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Kensains Sdn Bhd v. Loo Yeo Ming
(Franklin Goonting) [2006] 4 ILR 2954

Jurisdiction - Whether court has extra-territorial jurisdiction - Overseas employer - No legal entity under Malaysian law - Effect of - Claimant agreeing to be bound by laws of another country - Contract of employment clear - Effect of - Industrial Relations Act 1967
Leong Siew Foon v. Alphasem Asia Ltd
(Mohd Amin Firdaus Abdullah) [2006] 4 ILR 2805

Jurisdiction - Whether court seized with jurisdiction - Dispute involved non re-employment of retrenched worker - Whether fell within the ambit of trade dispute - Failure by company to challenge by way of certiorari - Effect of - Industrial Relations Act 1967 ss. 2, 18, 26(2)
Kempas Edible Oil Sdn Bhd (Kilang Kempas Devon) v. All Malayan Estates Staff Union (AMESU)
(Zura Yahya) [2006] 4 ILR 2942

Procedure - Action - Death of claimant - Effect of - Whether action personal to claimant - Whether automatic abatement of action - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20 & 20(3)
Tamil Chelvam Sellaiyah v. CGE Utilities (M) Sdn Bhd
(Jalaldin Haji Hussain) [2006] 4 ILR 2966

Procedure - Action - Striking out application - Representations made outside time frame provided under Industrial Relations Act 1967 - Whether good grounds for striking out matter - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Wan Ghazulee Wan Mohd Zain v. Systematic Education Group Bhd/ Systematic College (KL)
(Franklin Goonting) [2006] 4 ILR 2796

Procedure - Parties - Liquidator joined as party to proceedings vide earlier award - Whether joinder of liquidator attached personal liability - Whether repugnant to Companies Act 1965 - Application for disjoinder by liquidator - Whether justified - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(5), 30(6), 32 (1)(a) & Companies Act 1965 ss. 227, 228, 232, 239, 258, 261, 266
Amran Ramakrishnan Abdullah v. CS Metal Industries (M) Sdn Bhd & Ors
(Chew Soo Ho) [2006] 4 ILR 2914

Procedure - Parties - Joinder - Nexus - Whether exists - Respondent taking over control and management of company pursuant to court order - Company redundant - Effect of - Whether respondent represented interests of the company - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Kosma Plantation Berhad v. Norya Abas
(Chew Soo Ho) [2006] 4 ILR 2949

Procedure - Parties - Reference brought against company - No evidence to show that company was employer of claimant - Whether reference brought against the proper party - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Gopal Ratnasamy v. ECX Container Line (M) Sdn Bhd
(Franklin Goonting) [2006] 4 ILR 2970

Procedure - Pleadings - Failure to file statement of reply despite extensions of time - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Court Rules 1967, s. 10(1)
Multi Asia (M) Sdn Bhd v. Puan Amarjit Kaur Terlok Singh
(Chew Soo Ho) [2006] 4 ILR 2779

Procedure - Pleadings - Reasons for termination stated in court proceedings differing from pleadings filed by company - Whether court should take it into account - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Court Rules 1967, s. 10(1)
Mohamad Naim v. Naza Motor Trading Sdn Bhd
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2006] 4 ILR 2992

Remedies - Compensation - Assessment of - Mitigating factors - Whether claimant should mitigate her loss - How to - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Multi Asia (M) Sdn Bhd v. Puan Amarjit Kaur Terlok Singh
(Chew Soo Ho) [2006] 4 ILR 2779

Remedies - Compensation - Assessment of - Backwages - Loss of opportunity for a probationer - Whether claimant seeking to establish himself in permanent employment - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Mohamad Naim v. Naza Motor Trading Sdn Bhd
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2006] 4 ILR 2992

Employment - Dismissal - Application for certiorari and mandamus - Exercise of discretion by Chairman of Industrial Court - Termination simpliciter - Whether must be grounded on just cause or excuse - Probationer - Whether entitled to compensation - Whether award neither perverse nor unreasonable
Smart Glove Corporation Sdn Bhd v. Industrial Court, Malaysia & Anor
Raus Sharif J (High Court Malaya) [2006] 4 ILR 2697

Where worker not a member - Whether worker can be substituted as party in place of Trade Union - Test to be applied - Effect of - Industrial Relations Act 1967 s. 29
Kempas Edible Oil Sdn Bhd (Kilang Kempas Devon) v. All Malayan Estates Staff Union (AMESU)
(Zura Yahya) [2006] 4 ILR 2942

Whether worker was a member of the Trade Union - Whether payment of subscription fees to union sufficient to render worker a member - Whether Trade Union had locus standi to represent non union member - Effect of - Industrial Relations Act 1967 ss. 2, 18, 26(2) & Trade Unions Act 1959 s. 26(1A)
Kempas Edible Oil Sdn Bhd (Kilang Kempas Devon) v. All Malayan Estates Staff Union (AMESU)
(Zura Yahya) [2006] 4 ILR 2942

Pengiktirafan - Pekerja berpiket secara aman - Piket dijalankan waktu rehat dan selepas waktu kerja - Samada piket secara aman dilakukan sebelum kesatuan pekerja-pekerja diberi pengiktirafan - Syarikat mengedarkan borang kaji selidik - Samada piket diadakan kerana pengedaran borang kaji selidik itu - Kesannya - Samada peruntukan Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967 dipatuhi - Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967, ss. 2, 4, 5, 9(4C), 9(5), 10(1), 20(3), 40 & Akta Kerja 1955 s. 8
Hassim Mansor & 25 Yang Lain lwn. Ramatex Textiles Industrial Sdn Bhd
(Abdul Aziz Khalidin) [2006] 4 ILR 2726

Ketidakturutan - Pekerja-pekerja meninggalkan tempat kerja tanpa kebenaran bertulis pengurus atau peyelia - Kebenaran secara lisan diberikan - Kesannya - Syarikat mempunyai pengetahuan tentang sebabnya pekerja-pekerja tersebut meninggalkan tempat kerja - Samada mencukupi untuk membuktikan ketidakturutan - Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967, ss. 2, 4, 5, 9(4C), 9(5), 10(1), 20(3), 40 & Akta Kerja 1955 s. 8
Hassim Mansor & 25 Yang Lain lwn. Ramatex Textiles Industrial Sdn Bhd
(Abdul Aziz Khalidin) [2006] 4 ILR 2726

Notis penamatan - Tidak diberikan - Tiada kontrak pekerjaan - Kekeliruan tentang majkan Yang Menuntut - Samada dibuktikan - Samada pembuangan kerja adalah tanpa alasan atau sebab yang adil - Akta Mahkamah Perusahaan 1967, s. 20(3)
PA Egna Henry Pereira lwn. Sekolah Swasta Tun Dr Ismail
(Abdul Aziz Khalidin) [2006] 4 ILR 2798

Pemecatan secara konstruktif - Yang menuntut diberikan surat menjalankan tugasan ringan kerana kesihatannya - Kesannya - Syarikat melambatkan proses yang menuntut kembali bekerja - Niat syarikat - Samada mala fide - Samada pembuangan kerja yang menuntut dilakukan tanpa sebab atau alasan yang munasabah - Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Hotel Sofitel Palm Resorts & Golf (Palm Resort Berhad) lwn. Zulkifli Hassan
(Zaini Abd Rahman) [2006] 4 ILR 2927

CASE OF THE WEEK

MALAYSIA NATIONAL INSURANCE BERHAD v. RATNAWATI MOHAMED NAWAWI

DISMISSAL: Misconduct - Chit-chatting with colleagues vide e-mail using derogatory and vulgar language - Directed at senior officers of the company - Whether any harm intended by those e-mails - Whether undermining the authority of those officers - Whether constitutes misconduct - Whether claimant's performance was affected - No prior complaints against claimant - Whether punishment meted out on claimant too harsh - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)

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