Malaysian Railway Workers Protest

The Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya intends to protest against a move by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) to allow its Electric Train Services (ETS) to be managed by a subsidiary company, ET Sdn Bhd (ET).

Union president, Abdul Razak Md Hassan, was reported to have said that the union would continue its 500-strong protest outside the KTMB headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on 8 July 2010.

The news report statd that Abdul Razak said said a nationwide protest would be held at KTMB’s ten branches on 21 July, arising from the failure of KTMB president, Aminuddin Adnan, to meet with them to discuss the matter.

According to the news report, the Union president held that the 3,600 member-strong union was against the formation of the subsidiary and its control on the ETS because it would cause reduction of staff health benefits, loss of allowances, reduced annual leave and increased rental on staff quarters.

Previous Bernama news reports state that Aminuddin said that ET’s establishment was part of the transformation plan to ensure KTMB’s competitiveness, as well as create a more conducive working environment and culture.