ILR Bulletin, Vol 10 2007
16 August 2007

Print this page

CLJ Law MALAYSIA http://www.cljlaw.com

Introduction:
To get the most out of this law bulletin join CLJ Law Online now - http://www.cljlaw.com/registration.asp
Feel free to forward this to your colleagues. Get this bulletin as email by going to http://www.cljlaw.com/ilrsubscribefrm.asp

INDUSTRIAL LAW REPORTS ISSUE 6 of 2007

SUBJECT INDEX

Constructive dismissal - Change in job function - Setting up of Management and Loan Committees - Whether done bona fide - Whether legal - Claimant not raising objections to the setting up of the aforesaid committees - Whether claimant’s functions eroded by such setting up - Claimant only serving on one committee - Effect of - Whether there was a fundamental breach of the claimant’s contract of employment - Claimant delaying in claiming constructive dismissal - Claimant carrying on to work for company after alleged acts leading to constructive dismissal had taken place - Whether claimant’s conduct amounted to an affirmation of the contract - Claimant being reprimanded - Whether done in bad faith by the company - Whether constructive dismissal proven - Whether the claimant had waived the alleged breach by the company - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Perdana Finance Berhad & Anor v. Lee Chin Choong
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2007] 2 ILR 598

Constructive dismissal - Salary - Verbal contract between claimant and company - Effect of - Company delaying payment of claimant’s salaries and benefits - Confusion as to who claimant’s employer was - Effect of - Issue as to duration of claimant’s employment - Duration of claimant’s tenure intrinsically linked with company’s contract on the project - Effect of - Claimant claiming constructive dismissal - Whether evidence tendered by claimant sufficient - Whether constructive dismissal proven - Whether fundamental breach of terms of employment by company - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Krishna Moorthy Shanmugam v. AK Nagarajah Sdn Bhd/Pembinaan Shinrai Chadwick Pelagat JV Sdn Bhd
(Mary Shakila Azariah) [2007] 2 ILR 545

Misconduct - Acting against interests of hotel - Instigating a customer to do something which affected the hotels interest - Whether claimant’s conduct jeopardised hotel - Whether claimant had undermined his superiors authority - Misconduct arising from actions not related to claimant’s job - Effect of - Whether claimant’s explanation acceptable - Whether claimant had discharged his duties diligently - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Low Yook Meng v. Shangri-La Hotel (Kuala Lumpur)
(Zura Yahya) [2007] 2 ILR 588

Misconduct - Claimant allegedly involved in fraudulent credit card transactions - Claimant allegedly admitting to the misconduct - Claimant disputing signature in internal interview record - Effect of - No Domestic Inquiry conducted - Whether sufficient proof adduced by company - Whether company had successfully discharged its evidential burden - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad v. Steven Joseph
(Zura Yahya) [2007] 2 ILR 732

Misconduct - Claimant using telephone line for personal reasons despite being given several warnings not to - Whether non-performance came within ambit of misconduct - Whether company had given claimant enough time and guidance to improve - Claimant only working for 4 days out of his 3 month probation period - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Homestead Development Sdn Bhd v. Rajendran Mardasa Mustafa
(Chew Soo Ho) [2007] 2 ILR 657

Notice of termination - Claimant’s services terminated upon her reaching the age of retirement - What constitutes the age of retirement - Letter of employment silent on matter - Whether claimant had notice of employee handbook and contents therein - Effect Of - Claimant deriving benefits as provided in handbook - Claimant with company for 32 years - Whether the age of retirement in the handbook had been altered - Failure to adduce evidence - Effect of - Intention of company - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Ansell Shah Alam Sdn Bhd v. Lim Chwee Lin
(Siti Saleha Abu Bakar) [2007] 2 ILR 740

Notice of termination - Failure to state reasons for dismissal - Whether void in law - Whether Court could go into reasons for termination at hearing before the Court - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Homestead Development Sdn Bhd v. Rajendran Mardasa Mustafa
(Chew Soo Ho) [2007] 2 ILR 657

Notice of termination - Forced resignation - Claimant resigning verbally and then following up with a letter - Verbal resignation accepted by the company - Whether claimant had resigned voluntarily or had been forced to resign - Conduct of claimant - Claimant failing to stipulate the breach that needs to be rectified - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Perdana Finance Berhad & Anor v. Lee Chin Choong
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2007] 2 ILR 598

Notice of termination - Forced resignation - Whether claimant had succeeded in proving - Ultimatum issued to claimant - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Great Wall Plastic Industries Berhad v. Wong Suit Heong
(Soo Ai Lin) [2007] 2 ILR 713

Notice of termination - Inadequate Notice - Claimant reaching retirement age - No retirement age stipulated in claimant’s letter of appointment - Provision for retirement in company’s Integrated Group Employee’s Scheme of Service - Whether claimant had knowledge of scheme and bound by the provisions contained therein - Company not paying retirement and gratuity benefits - Benefits only provided under scheme - Whether payment of benefits and gratuity at the discretion of the company - Interpretation of the articles in the scheme - Effect Of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Integrated Warehouse Sdn Bhd v. Cheng Nee
(Yeoh Wee Siam) [2007] 2 ILR 519

Notice of termination - Verbal termination - Claimant given transfer orders without being given an explanation - Claimant declining transfer - Effect of - Respondent alleging financial losses - Whether proven - Whether transfer was conscionable - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Madam Hsu Facial-Cultural Physics & Treatment Academy v. Ng Fun Mun
(Choong Siew Khim) [2007] 2 ILR 634

Notice of termination - Verbal termination - Claimant being issued with revised terms and conditions in letter of employment - Ultimatum issued to claimant - Effect of - Whether ultimatum could be considered termination - Claimant not accepting ultimatum - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Madam Hsu Facial-Cultural Physics & Treatment Academy v. Ng Fun Mun
(Choong Siew Khim) [2007] 2 ILR 634

Performance - Poor performance - Company failing to give the claimant written warnings - Company failing to adduce sufficient evidence to show that verbal warnings were given to the claimant - Claimant not aware of complaints against her until she received her termination letter - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Great Wall Plastic Industries Berhad v. Wong Suit Heong
(Soo Ai Lin) [2007] 2 ILR 713

Performance - Unsatisfactory performance - Whether the claimant had been able to discharge his duties effectively - Whether company could rely on events which happened 6 months prior to termination to prove the claimant’s unsatisfactory performance - Claimant not given any warnings or an opportunity to improve - Whether the club under an obligation to give warnings to the claimant - Claimant holding a senior position at club - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Kelab Shah Alam Selangor v. Chew San Bok
(Soo Ai Lin) [2007] 2 ILR 626

Retrenchment - Company failing to follow LIFO principles - Whether this was a case where the LIFO principles had to be followed - Effect of - Whether retrenchment exercise carried out by the company followed accepted practises - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Bechtel Malaysia, Inc v. Hazmal Hassan
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2007] 2 ILR 527

Retrenchment - Redundancy - Company attempting to place claimant in alternative employment within the company - Whether company obliged to obtain job for claimant with overseas counterparts - Conduct of company - Whether company’s actions reasonable and bona fide - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Bechtel Malaysia, Inc v. Hazmal Hassan
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2007] 2 ILR 527

Retrenchment - Redundancy - Company in poor financial health - Company imposing cost cutting measures - Claimant signing retrenchment notices on behalf of the company - Whether claimant was aware of financial standings of company - Whether any mala fides on part of company in carrying out retrenchment exercise - Claimant not informed of company’s intention to retrench him - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Bechtel Malaysia, Inc v. Hazmal Hassan
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2007] 2 ILR 527

Retrenchment - Redundancy - Reorganization of Business - Right of company to reorganize business - Company not facing financial difficulties - Claimant’s performance not in issue - Claimant not issued with verbal or written warning prior to retrenchment letter - Effect of - No reasons advanced by company as to why reorganization exercise carried out - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Mohammed Rashid Abdul Ajij v. John Crane Singapore Pte Ltd
(Mary Shakila Azariah) [2007] 2 ILR 683

Retrenchment - Redundancy - Whether company’s workload suffered - Whether there had been a diminution in the claimant’s workload - Whether company had shown sufficient evidence to prove it - Others filling in claimant’s position after she had been retrenched - Effect of - Relationship between claimant and company deteriorating - Conduct of company - Whether bona fide - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Maria Tan Sri Ab Samad v. Leo Burnett Advertising Sdn Bhd
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2007] 2 ILR 644

Adverse inference - In what circumstances could it be invoked - Whether circumstances of case justified the invoking of it - Effect of - Whether evidence of other witnesses sufficient - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3) & Evidence Act 1950, s. 114(g)
Low Yook Meng v. Shangri-La Hotel (Kuala Lumpur)
(Zura Yahya) [2007] 2 ILR 588

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)
Mohammed Rashid Abdul Ajij v. John Crane Singapore Pte Ltd
(Mary Shakila Azariah) [2007] 2 ILR 683

Documentary evidence - Admissibility - Allegation that documents obtained unlawfully - Whether claimant in breach of her duty of fidelity to the first and second companies - Whether documents admissible - Issue of admissibility of documents being adjudicated vide second civil suit in the High Court - Adjudication pending - Effect of - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3)
Tan Bee Huat v. Tan Chong Apparels Sdn Bhd & Anor
(Susila Sithamparam) [2007] 2 ILR 640

Witness - Failure to cross examine on material points of law and fact - Effect of - Whether company’s version more believable that the claimant’s - Whether weight to be given to claimant’s version - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Homestead Development Sdn Bhd v. Rajendran Mardasa Mustafa
(Chew Soo Ho) [2007] 2 ILR 657

Witness - Strength of the testimony of the witnesses adduced by company - Company failing to call witnesses to rebut claimant’s evidence - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad v. Steven Joseph
(Zura Yahya) [2007] 2 ILR 732

Procedure - Amendment of Statement of Case - Claimant changing solicitors numerous times - Effect of - Second attempt at amendment - Amendments sought making pleadings much more lengthy - Whether reasons for amendment were clear from claimant’s affidavit in support - Whether amendments sought changed the character of the matter - Bona fide application - Exercise of Discretion - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 20(3) & 30(5)
Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd/Shell Malaysia Limited v. John Christopher Johns
(Franklin Goonting) [2007] 2 ILR 566

Procedure - Parties - Joinder - Nexus - Whether Exists - Claimant transferred from 2nd company to company - Claimant made to sign undertaking that he would forego all claims against 2nd company - Whether 2nd company represented interests of the company - Whether joinder necessary to make adjudication enforceable and effective - Whether prejudice would be caused to 2nd company - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 29(a)
Ho Foon Weng v. MRZ Car Seat Sdn Bhd
(Siti Saleha Abu Bakar) [2007] 2 ILR 560

Remedies - Reinstatement - Whether claimant’s plea for reinstatement was bona fide - Claimant holding higher paying job currently - Whether claimant would actually leave current job if reinstatement awarded - Claimant leaving it to Court’s discretion - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 30(6)
Great Wall Plastic Industries Berhad v. Wong Suit Heong
(Soo Ai Lin) [2007] 2 ILR 713

Remedies - Reinstatement - Whether appropriate - Attitude of claimant - Compensation in lieu in reinstatement - Conduct of claimant - Whether justified a reduction in award - Assessment of post dismissal earnings - Effect of - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Homestead Development Sdn Bhd v. Rajendran Mardasa Mustafa
(Chew Soo Ho) [2007] 2 ILR 657

Social security - Accident while travelling - Whether accident arose out of and in the course of employment - Whether employee was travelling on a route between workplace and residence - Primary objective of travel - Underlying purpose of s. 24 Employee’s Social Security Act 1969 - Purposive interpretation - Widest possible insurance coverage for Workers - Employee’s Social Security Act 1969, ss. 15(f), 17(1), 22(a), 24(1) (a), (b), (c), 23, 24(2), 37, 38, 46, 91(2) & s. 17(A) Interpretation Act 1948 and 1967
Ketua Pengarah Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial v. Tham Tian Siong
(Muniandy Kannyappan) [2007] 2 ILR 509

Collective Agreement - Articles on retrenchment benefits and benefits of service - Respondent ceasing operations - Claimants not placed in other positions within respondents group of companies - Whether respondent under an obligation to so place - Effect of - Definition of retrenchment - Separate legal entities of respondent’s group of companies - Whether LIFO principles applied - Intention of parties - Whether respondent had complied with terms of the Collective Agreement - Whether complainants came within the ambit of the provisions of the Collective Agreement - Effect of - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 56(1) & Companies Act 1955
Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Berhad v. Azami Ismail & Ors And Another Case
(Umi Kalthum Abdul Majid) [2007] 2 ILR 573

Prosidur - Tindakan/Kes - Siapa yang harus memulakan kes - Syarikat menamatkan perkhidmatan yang menuntut - Syarikat memplid bahawa yang menuntut bukan pekerjanya - Tiada cabaran diambil oleh syarikat terhadap rujukan Menteri Sumber Manusia - Practis mahkamah sebelum ini - Kesannya - Samada pembuangan kerja yang menuntut dilakukan atas sebab atau alasan yang adil - Akta Mahkamah Perusahaan 1967, s. 20(3)
Borhanuddin Hussein lwn. Bumihiway (M) Sdn Bhd
(Zura Yahya) [2007] 2 ILR 679

Prosidur - Locus standi - Peguam syarikat juga merupakan majikan - Samada terdapat percanggahan antara peranan peguam syarikat sebagai majikan dan peruntukan Legal Profession (Practise and Etiquette) Rules 1978 - Kebarangkalian peguam syarikat akan dipanggil sebagai saksi syarikat - Samada majikan syarikat selaku peguam terikat kepada peruntukan Legal Profession (Practise and Etiquette) Rules 1978 - Kesannya - Legal Profession (Practise and Etiquette) Rules 1978 ss. 4, 5, 27 dan 28 & Akta Mahkamah Perusahaan 1967, s. 20
Tetuan Selvam Shanmugam & Partners lwn. Ratna Sheamala Devi Markandu
(Badariah Hassan) [2007] 2 ILR 703

CASE OF THE WEEK

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (M) BHD, EMPLOYEES UNION v. BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (MALAYSIA) BHD

TRADE DISPUTE: Collective Agreement - Matter not referred by Minister - Whether Industrial Court could adjudicate under such circumstances - Correct procedure for matters relating to a dispute of facts - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 18 & 33

INDUSTRIAL COURT: Procedure - Action - Preliminary objection - Union using wrong section of Industrial Relations Act 1967 to bypass statutory regulations - Effect of - Whether should be allowed - Whether provisions relied on by Union misconceived - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 18 & 33

ILR Bulletin
To Subscribe/Unsubscribe go to http://www.cljlaw.com/ilrsubscribefrm.asp

Copyright ©1997 - 2007 CLJ Legal Network Sdn Bhd (192353 V)
Email: enquiries@cljlaw.com Phone: 603-4270-5400 Fax No : 603-4270 5401 & 603-4270 5402