Over forty non-governmental organisations including human rights groups and workers unions have protested disciplinary action against staff of two DRB Hicom companies.
A statement urging the corporation to put a stop to the action targeting 18 workers - 16 from HICOM Automotive Manufacturers (Malaysia) and 2 from ISUZU HICOM Malaysia, both based in Pekan, Pahang who had submitted a memorandum endorsed by the Malaysian Trade Union Congress to one of the candidates there.
"Significantly, the workers were not allowed the right to be represented by lawyers or representatives of the National Union, only by representatives from the work site committee.
"We consider the action taken by the two DRB Hicom companies not only a gross violation of worker rights," said the statement, which called on Pekan member of parliament, prime minister Najib Razak, "to intervene and ensure that the rights of his constituents, as workers and as citizens, are not violated by employers".
Among others, the groups claim that DRB Hicom justified its action against the 18 workers saying they might have given 'false impression' that the company was involved in politics.
Dismissing the claim as "laughable" and "hypocritical", the statement pointed out that the company had encouraged workers to attend a meeting with Najib as the Pekan candidate on April 25.
"Indeed, workers were allowed to go for the meeting during working hours!" it added.
The following organisations have endorsed the statement:
ALIRAN
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
Asian Migrant Centre (AMC)
Association of Maybank Executives
Building and Wood Workers International Asia Pacific
Burma Campaign Malaysia
Clean Clothes Campaign
Community Action Network (CAN), Malaysia
Dignity International
Group of Concerned Citizens
Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
Human Rights Ambassador for Salem News, UK
Jawatankuasa Sahabat Rakyat
Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Polyplastics Asia Pacific
Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan Semenanjung Malaysia
Kesatuan Pekerja Pekerja Kelab Semenanjung Malaysia
Legal Aid Commission, Sri Lanka
MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)
Malaysians for Beng Hock
Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility
Migrante International
Migrants Rights Council, India
MTUC(Malaysian Trade Union Congress) Melaka
MTUC(Malaysian Trade Union Congress) Pahang
MTUC(Malaysian Trade Union Congress) Penang Division
Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia(NAMM)
NUBE (National Union of Banking Employees), Malaysia
NUHBRW (National Union of Hotel, Bar and Restaurant Workers), Malaysia
Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)
Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti, Selangor (EMPOWER)
Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
Pusat KOMAS (KOMAS)
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association
SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia)
Tenaganita, Malaysia
Think Centre, Singapore
Tenaga Nasional Berhad Junior Officers Union (TNBJOU), Malaysia
WARBE Development Foundation-Bangladesh
Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Malaysia
Workers Assistance Center, Inc, Philippines
Workers Hub For Change (WH4C)