ILR Bulletin, Vol 04 2007
1 March 2007

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INDUSTRIAL LAW REPORTS ISSUE 1 of 2007

Absenteeism - Claimant failing to turn up consecutively for 2 days in a row without leave of the employer - Effect of - Employment Act 1955, ss. 15(2) & 13
Leong Peng Yoong & Ors v. Venuganan Muniandy
(Chew Soo Ho) [2007] 1 ILR 30

Attendance - Extended meal breaks - Claimant running errands for company during lunch breaks - Effect of - 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, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Yong Chooi Kim v. Falcorp Consolidated Sdn Bhd
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2007] 1 ILR 219

Breach of company rules and policies - Gambling - Claimant caught in the act - Effect of - Disparity of punishment between the others caught gambling - Whether equitable - Considerations to take into account - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Zainudin Md Ali v. Paling Industries Sdn Bhd
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2007] 1 ILR 124

Breach of company rules and policies - Leaking of confidential information to government agencies - Claimant having possession and control of information - Effect of - Intention of claimant - Whether any other persons had access to that information - Whether charges proven against claimant - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Hitachi Transport System (M) Sdn Bhd v. Joseph Herbert Louis
(Tan Yeak Hui) [2007] 1 ILR 129

Breach of company rules and policies - Misappropriation of company funds - Claimant holding job in a fiduciary capacity - No physical verification of value of coins - Claimant admitting to shortage but failing to give explanations for shortage - Whether element of dishonesty present in claimant - Bank relying solely on claimant’s unaccountability in finding her guilty - Whether claimant was negligent in carrying out her duties - Whether grave error committed by the bank - Effect of - Disparity of punishment between the others also responsible for the shortfall in the coins - Whether equitable - Considerations to take into account - Whether there was condonation on the part of the bank - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(5) & Penal Code s. 24
Lina Goh v. Malayan Banking Berhad
(Muniandy Kannyappan) [2007] 1 ILR 53

Constructive dismissal - Change in job function - Possibility of change - Company’s future uncertain - Claimant told to go on paid leave - No protest made by claimant - Company intending to discuss claimant’s employment options after her return from leave - Claimant claiming constructive dismissal whilst on leave - Whether constructive dismissal proven - Intention of company - Whether claimant was victimised - Claimant only lodging protest 2 months after the event - Whether the claimant waived the alleged breach by the company - Whether fundamental breach of terms of employment by company - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
MTDC Technology Media Sdn Bhd & Anor v. Loke Wai Yue
(Soo Ai Lin) [2007] 1 ILR 200

Constructive dismissal - Change in job function - Demotion with corresponding reduction in salary - Allegations against claimant in relation to conduct done prior to prohibition memo - Whether proper - Whether company carried out thorough investigation - Conduct of company - Whether acted reasonably - Whether charges proven - Whether constructive dismissal proven - Whether fundamental breach of terms of employment - Whether claimant waived breach - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
MEC Forwarding System Sdn Bhd v. Ramachandran G Krishnan
(N Rajasegaran) [2007] 1 ILR 71

Constructive dismissal - Salary - Proposed reduction in salary - Claimant not agreeing - Claimant refusing to sign employment contract - Thereafter failing to turn up for work - Company advertising claimant no longer with company in newspapers - Effect of - Whether claimant constructively dismissed - Whether constructive dismissal proven - Intention of company - Whether mala fides exists - Claimant claiming constructive dismissal on two separate grounds - Claimant only lodging protest a few months after the event - Whether the claimant waived the alleged breach by the 4th respondent - Claimant running business in competition with employer - Effect of - Duty of employee to employer - Whether fundamental breach of terms of employment by company or claimant - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Leong Peng Yoong & Ors v. Venuganan Muniandy
(Chew Soo Ho) [2007] 1 ILR 30

Insubordination - Refusal to accept instructions of superiors - Reorganisation of company posted on employee notice board - Not on letterhead of company and not signed by the Managing Director - Whether proper notification to key management personnel - Effect of - Whether claimant bound by re-organisation - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Hitachi Transport System (M) Sdn Bhd v. Joseph Herbert Louis
(Tan Yeak Hui) [2007] 1 ILR 129

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)
Malaysia National Insurance Berhad v. Ratnawati Mohamed Nawawi
(Syed Ahmad Radzi Syed Omar) [2007] 1 ILR 189

Misconduct - Claimant pleading ignorance to provision breached - Whether claimant aware of terms and conditions of contract - Effect of - Claimant reaping benefits of terms and conditions - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Suatman Laso v. TM Cellular Sdn Bhd
(P Iruthayaraj D Pappusamy) [2007] 1 ILR 145

Notice of termination - No reasons stipulated for termination - Reasons for termination stipulated in company’s Statement in reply - Effect of - Whether made out - Whether valid - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Yong Chooi Kim v. Falcorp Consolidated Sdn Bhd
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2007] 1 ILR 219

Performance - Poor performance - No evidence lead by company as to time frame given to complete tasks - Effect of - Whether poor performance proven by the company - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Yong Chooi Kim v. Falcorp Consolidated Sdn Bhd
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2007] 1 ILR 219

Performance - Poor performance - Not performing jobs within deadlines - Effect of - Putting company contract at risk - Claimants given prior warnings - Unheeded - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Mohd Khadzil Azhari Yusof & Anor v. TM Kay Fertilizers Sdn Bhd
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2007] 1 ILR 108

Performance - Unsatisfactory performance - Based on two incidents - Whether company acted reasonably - Effect of - Whether proven by company - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(5)
Ricovest Sdn Bhd v. Atchu Narayanan
(Zaini Abd Rahman) [2007] 1 ILR 115

Police investigation - Arrest by the police - Urine tests positive for dangerous drugs - Effect of - Whether charges proven against claimant - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Suatman Laso v. TM Cellular Sdn Bhd
(P Iruthayaraj D Pappusamy) [2007] 1 ILR 145

Probationer - Summary dismissal by the company - Claimant not given opportunity to explain - Effect of - Whether rules of natural justice complied - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse – Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(5)
Ricovest Sdn Bhd v. Atchu Narayanan
(Zaini Abd Rahman) [2007] 1 ILR 115

Probationer - Termination pursuant to letter of appointment - Claimant not given prior warnings or chance to improve - Summary dismissal by company - Whether constituted breach going to root of employment contract - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Yong Chooi Kim v. Falcorp Consolidated Sdn Bhd
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2007] 1 ILR 219

Retrenchment - Redundancy - Respondent company taken over by third party company not party to the suit - Claimants not offered employment in new company - Effect of - Whether new company under obligation to offer claimants employment - Sequence of events - Claimants position in respondent company redundant - Whether the LIFO principles were applicable - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Golden Plus RDC Sdn Bhd v. Hartson Lew Fat Moo & Anor
(Stanley Clement Augustin) [2007] 1 ILR 196

Retrenchment - Reorganisation of Business - Privatization of company - Claimant’s job functions still in existence after dismissal - Job functions taken over by employees of company - Whether claimant’s services actually redundant - Test to be applied - Whether satisfied by the company - Claimant not issued with verbal or written warning prior to termination - No evidence of unsatisfactory performance on the part of claimant - Effect of - Dismissal taking place a year after privatization - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Tuanku Jaafar Golf & Country Resort v. Quek Suan Tsun
(K Ramakrishnan) [2007] 1 ILR 167

Retrenchment - Restructuring - Claimant managing business of company - Company not profit oriented - Claimant taking advantage of the company and failing to deliver job functions effectively - Intention of claimant questionable - Huge unsubstantiated expenditure incurred by company - Company suffering huge losses - Whether restructuring done bona fide - Whether victimization by company - Whether Code of Conduct For Industrial Harmony had to be adhered to - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Aman Insurance Adjusters & Investigators Sdn Bhd v. Yow Boon Beng
(Mohd Amin Firdaus Abdullah) [2007] 1 ILR 86

Retrenchment - Restructuring - Whether new employees taken in by company - No salaries paid and no EPF contributions made - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Aman Insurance Adjusters & Investigators Sdn Bhd v. Yow Boon Beng
(Mohd Amin Firdaus Abdullah) [2007] 1 ILR 86

Burden of proof - Criminal conduct - Reasonable grounds - Duty of bank to prove - Whether proven - Absence of documentary and oral proof - Whether dismissal with just cause and excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(5) & Penal Code s. 40
Lina Goh v. Malayan Banking Berhad
(Muniandy Kannyappan) [2007] 1 ILR 53

Burden of proof - On company to prove redundancy - Whether evidence of company re-organization sufficient to satisfy burden - Whether re-organization was done bona fide - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Tuanku Jaafar Golf & Country Resort v. Quek Suan Tsun
(K Ramakrishnan) [2007] 1 ILR 167

Documentary evidence - Circumstantial evidence - Whether claimant had grievances against company - Whether claimant had motive - Whether satisfied - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Hitachi Transport System (M) Sdn Bhd v. Joseph Herbert Louis
(Tan Yeak Hui) [2007] 1 ILR 129

Material contradictions and inconsistencies - Preparation of testimonial letter - Claimant contending letter prepared by COW1 - Evidence indicating otherwise - Effect of - Whether dismissal with just cause and excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(5)
Aman Insurance Adjusters & Investigators Sdn Bhd v. Yow Boon Beng
(Mohd Amin Firdaus Abdullah) [2007] 1 ILR 86

Jurisdiction - Whether court has jurisdiction to hear the matter - Whether dismissal of
Telekom Malaysia Berhad v. Mohamad Abdul Rahim
(Soo Ai Lin) [2007] 1 ILR 178

Pleadings - Company seeking to rely on grounds other than in pleadings - Whether allowed - Effect of - Whether court to take such evidence into consideration - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 30(5)
Ricovest Sdn Bhd v. Atchu Narayanan
(Zaini Abd Rahman) [2007] 1 ILR 115

Procedure - Action - Striking out - Whether ministerial reference lodged by claimant within time period - Effect of - Issue on date of claimant’s dismissal - Whether court has jurisdiction to hear the matter - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(1) & 20(1A)
Khairielnizan Othman v. Wekajaya Sdn Bhd
(Muniandy Kannyappan) [2007] 1 ILR 49

Procedure - Action - Delay in company giving notice of objection to claimant’s counsel - Effect of - Whether reasons for delay satisfactorily explained - Whether non compliance by company was a technical objection - Role of Industrial Court as a Court of equity - Industrial Relations Act 1967 s. 30(5) & Industrial Court Rules 1967 Part II Form A
Wong Foong Peng v. Tan Chiang Brother’s Marble & Granite Sdn Bhd
(Zura Yahya) [2007] 1 ILR 213

Procedure - Ex parte proceedings - Ex parte the claimant - Effect of - Whether claimant should have attempted appearance in court - Whether constituted an abandonment of the claimant of her rights - Whether claimant came to the court of equity and good conscience with clean hands - Whether dismissal with just cause and excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20 (1), 20(3), 29(d)
Lina Goh v. Malayan Banking Berhad
(Muniandy Kannyappan) [2007] 1 ILR 53

Procedure - Parties - Substitution - Respondent not a legal entity - Undisputed that respondent was employer of claimant - Jurisdiction of Industrial Court - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3), 29(a) & Legal Profession Act 1976 ss. 36(1), 41(1), 41(2), 57(e), 57(j), 73(ii)
Shanta Josephine Robert v. Jawatankuasa Peguam Perak
(Choong Siew Khim) [2007] 1 ILR 186

Procedure - Representation - Legal representation - Claimant’s counsel was her husband - Effect of - Whether personal relationship precluded claimant’s counsel from representing her - Industrial Relations Act 1967 s. 27 & Legal Profession (Practise and Etiquette) Rules 1978 Rule 3, Rule 27(a)
Wong Foong Peng v. Tan Chiang Brother’s Marble & Granite Sdn Bhd
(Zura Yahya) [2007] 1 ILR 213

Collective Agreement - Whether there was ambiguity in the Collective Agreement - Whether Union seeking to remove terms less favourable through variation - Whether cabin crew came within the definition of employee and engaged in manual labour - Test to be applied - Whether cabin crew within speacialized job category - Whether the employer could impose special terms and conditions - Collective Agreement being mutually agreed upon by all parties - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 14(3), 33(2), Industrial Court Rules 1967 Rule 15, Employment Act 1955 ss. 7, 37(1)(a), 37(1)(c) and 37(2)(a), 40, 43, 2(1) of the First Schedule & Contract Act 1950
Malaysian Airline System Bhd v. Malaysian Airline System Employees Union Peninsular Malaysia
(Chew Soo Ho) [2007] 1 ILR 239

Keterangan dokumentari - Dapatan siasatan dalaman - Samada YM1 dan YM2 diberi peluang membela diri - Kesannya -Samada siasatan dalaman dijalankan secara teratur - Samada pembuangan kerja YM1 dan YM2 dilakukan tanpa sebab atau alasan yang munasabah - Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967, s. 20(3)
Airi Azman Tahir & Anor lwn. Eden Garden Hotel Johor Bahru
(Abdul Aziz Khalidin) [2007] 1 ILR 14

Keterangan dokumentari - Pita video CCTV - Salinan asal tidak dikemukakan - Pembuat salinan pita tidak dipanggil memberi keterangan - Kesannya - Samada pita video tersebut berada di dalam kawalan syarikat - Ujian yang terpakai - Kes bukan jenayah - Samada mahkamah dibebankan dengan perkara-perkara teknikal - Fungsi mahkamah - Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967, s. 20(3) & Akta Keterangan 1950, s. 114(g)
Airi Azman Tahir & Anor lwn. Eden Garden Hotel Johor Bahru
(Abdul Aziz Khalidin) [2007] 1 ILR 14

Pengingkaran aturan dan polisi syarikat - Kecurian - Percubaan mencuri - YM1 dan YM2 dicam melalui pita video CCTV - Kesannya - YM1 dan YM2 melanggar arahan syarikat - Samada pertuduhan-pertuduhan telah dibuktikkan terhadap YM1 dan YM2 - Samada pembuangan kerja YM1 dan YM2 dilakukan tanpa sebab atau alasan yang munasabah - Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967, s. 20(3)
Airi Azman Tahir & Anor lwn. Eden Garden Hotel Johor Bahru
(Abdul Aziz Khalidin) [2007] 1 ILR 14

Pengingkaran aturan dan polisi syarikat - Salahlaku - Kegagalan hadir bekerja tanpa kebenaran - Yang menuntut sakit - Responden mempunyai pengetahuan dan memainkan peranan dalam rawatan yang menuntut - Kesannya - Samada ketidakhadiran yang menuntut disebabkan penyakitnya merupakan suatu salahlaku - Samada dibuktikan - Samada pembuangan kerja adalah tanpa alasan atau sebab yang adil - Akta Mahkamah Perusahaan 1967, s. 20(3) & Akta Pekerja 1955 s. 15(2)
Mohamad Isham Idrus lwn. Malaysian Airlines System Berhad
(Siti Khadijah Sheikh Hassan) [2007] 1 ILR 1

Pengingkaran aturan dan polisi syarikat - Yang menuntut melanggar terma dan syarat perjanjian bersama - Yang menuntut hamil dengan anak ketiga - Kesannya - Samada syarikat memaafkan pengingkaran yang menuntut - Niat syarikat - Samada pembuangan kerja yang menuntut sah di sisi undang-undang - Samada pembuangan kerja yang menuntut dilakukan tanpa sebab atau alasan yang munasabah - Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967, ss. 14(3), 20(3), Perlembagaan Persekutuan Artikel 5(1) dan 8(1) & Akta Pekerjaan 1955 s. 43
Sheela Devi Visuvanathan v. Malaysian Airlines System Berhad
(Ahmadi Haji Asnawi) [2007] 1 ILR 99

Prosidur tak wajar - Kelewatan dalam menjalankan siasatan dalaman - Samada kelewatan tersebut manifestly excessive - Kesannya - Samada alasan syarikat bagi kelewatan tersebut boleh diterima - Samada pembuangan kerja Yang menuntut dilakukan tanpa sebab atau alasan yang munasabah - Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967, s. 20(3)
Sheela Devi Visuvanathan v. Malaysian Airlines System Berhad
(Ahmadi Haji Asnawi) [2007] 1 ILR 99

CASE OF THE WEEK

YONG CHOOI KIM v. FALCORP CONSOLIDATED SDN BHD

DISMISSAL: Attendance - Extended meal breaks - Claimant running errands for company during lunch breaks - Effect of - 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, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)

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