Latest news with #dismissal
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Penang GLC ordered to pay nearly RM120k for firing pro-opposition staff
The Industrial Court ruled that Penang Tech Centre Bhd had dismissed Sivakumar Kanniah (right) and Jason Raj Kirupanantha (left) without just cause. GEORGE TOWN : A Penang government-linked science centre has been ordered to pay RM117,560 to two staff sacked for backing an independent candidate in the 2023 state election. The Industrial Court ruled that Penang Tech Centre Bhd, which runs Tech Dome Penang, dismissed Sivakumar Kanniah, 48, and Jason Raj Kirupanantha, 38, without just cause. Located in Komtar's geodesic dome and launched in 2016 at a cost of RM23.2 million, Tech Dome showcases interactive science and tech exhibits to inspire students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Sivakumar, a pioneer staff member who rose to operations manager earning RM5,200 monthly, was awarded RM92,560 in back pay for two years, minus income earned after his dismissal on Nov 15, 2023. Jason, a senior government affairs coordinator, was awarded RM25,000 for the early termination of his contract, which had been set to run until March 31, 2024. He was dismissed on Nov 9. Both men sought reinstatement and extra damages, but the court declined, citing no bad intent from the company and a breakdown in trust. Tech Dome claimed they had breached trust by campaigning for independent candidates aligned with former deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy, and accused them of disloyalty for opposing the DAP-led state government. It argued that, as a state-owned company, it had to remain politically neutral, and that staff should not support opposing candidates. During the hearing, finance and HR manager Emily Seah said 80% of Penang Tech's income came from public donations, including from both government MPs and assemblymen. Asked how supporting an independent candidate affected the company, she replied: 'Some YBs might feel uncomfortable because the campaign was against the state government.' However, Industrial Court chairman Jeyaseelen Anthony found no specific bans in either employee's contract or the company's code of conduct barring political activity. He said that while both men held key positions, their political involvement did not amount to misconduct. Sivakumar was accused of showing 'disloyalty and a lack of integrity' by linking the company's name to an independent candidate and posting political messages on Facebook. The company claimed he was warned before but had repeated the behaviour. However, the court found no evidence of any prior warning, verbal or written, or a domestic inquiry before his dismissal. In Jason's case, the court said he had applied for five days' leave from July 31 to Aug 4, 2023, to campaign. The leave was approved by the CEO, weakening claims of misconduct. A WhatsApp exchange between CEO Khoo Boo Wooi and Jason, tendered as evidence, further supported this. Khoo wrote: 'TDP (Tech Dome Penang) is a science centre, not subject to politic (sic) to KO (knock out) easily.' Jeyaseelen also noted that the state assembly was dissolved at the time, with Penang under a caretaker government. 'The respondent is a state government-owned company and not owned by any political party,' he said. He rejected the company's argument that the men had broken an unspoken rule of loyalty, saying such terms must be clearly written in contracts to be valid grounds for dismissal. 'If political neutrality was essential to Tech Dome, the requirement ought to have been expressly written into the claimants' employment contract or the code of conduct,' he said. Lawyer Shamsher Singh Thind represented Sivakumar and Jason, while lawyer P Subramaniam represented Tech Dome.
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Police officers found guilty of misconduct face automatic dismissal
Police officers found guilty of gross misconduct will face automatic dismissal under rules to root out rogue behaviour. Officers will be sacked for gross misconduct unless there are 'exceptional circumstances', under the rules to be introduced from the end of May. Ministers believe the tougher rules will strengthen the ability of police chiefs to remove officers unfit to serve by setting clear expectations about what should happen to those guilty of the most serious misbehaviour. About 500 officers who were guilty of gross misconduct were dismissed or chose to leave the service, official figures from 2023/24 show. But currently there is no guarantee that gross misconduct will lead to dismissal. Some 56 officers remained in policing last year despite being found guilty of serious misbehaviour. Dame Diana Johnson, the policing minister, said: 'We place a huge amount of faith and trust in the police officers we see in our communities, and it is vital that only those fit to wear the uniform are serving the public. 'We cannot let the majority of officers, who are brave and committed to keeping us safe, be tarnished by the few who commit serious criminality or gross misconduct. They, and the public, deserve certainty that those who are unfit to serve will be dismissed. 'With our Plan for Change, we are sending the clear message that no matter where you are in the country, the officers serving on our streets are only of the highest standards.' The legislation, laid in Parliament on Wednesday, will create a presumption of accelerated hearings for former officers, ensuring swifter proceedings for those who resign or retire before they face a misconduct hearing. Former officers who would have been dismissed had they still been serving will continue to be barred from future service. Unsatisfactory performance procedures are also being streamlined so that underperforming officers are taken through the process more quickly. Serious criminal offences where cases must be heard in the crown court will also automatically amount to gross misconduct under the new measures. These 'indictable only' criminal offences like rape and grievous bodily harm often lead to misconduct proceedings, but it is not currently enshrined in law. It will now be written into statute, making it more straightforward for forces to deal with such cases quickly. As part of the Government's reform agenda, further measures will be brought in later this year to strengthen national vetting standards and ensure every force follows them, as well as introduce stronger requirements to suspend officers under investigation for violence against women and girls. Last month, Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, announced that police chiefs will be granted powers to sack hundreds of 'rogue' officers who fail background checks. She is to change the law to allow chief constables to automatically sack officers who fail vetting checks, closing a loophole that prevented unsuitable or unsafe officers from being taken off force payrolls. Currently, those officers are moved to backroom roles or placed on 'special vetting leave'. Scotland Yard alone estimated it would cost the force at least £2 million a year to continue to pay for officers who have failed the background checks. Baroness Newlove, the Victims' Commissioner, said: 'Today's changes are a welcome and necessary step toward restoring public trust – and reaffirming the values policing must uphold. Too often and for far too long, red flags have been missed, minimised or ignored. 'While only one piece of the puzzle, I hope these measures will help to kick urgently needed cultural change into gear, ensuring only those worthy of the badge are allowed to serve.'
Free Malaysia Today
07-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-council engineer fails in bid for RM2mil damages over unlawful sacking
The Court of Appeal said Sobri Che Hassan, who was dismissed in 2013, is not entitled to benefits beyond Oct 21, 2019, as decided by the Federal Court. PUTRAJAYA : The Court of Appeal has unanimously dismissed an appeal by a former engineer with the Seberang Perai Municipal Council, who had sought RM2 million in damages, inclusive of pension and gratuity payment, following his dismissal for misconduct in 2013. A three-member bench, led by Justice Nazlan Ghazali, said the High Court, which assessed the damages, was right in its decision. 'In our view, the appellant cannot be entitled to benefits beyond Oct 21, 2019, as decided by the Federal Court,' said Nazlan, who sat with Justices Azimah Omar and Alwi Abdul Wahab. The bench also ordered Sobri Che Hassan, 50, to pay RM10,000 in costs to the council. On Oct 21, 2019, a five-member Federal Court bench upheld the Court of Appeal's decision that the council was liable for terminating Sobri's employment effective Nov 28, 2013. However, it did not order his reinstatement. The Federal Court also said Sobri's employment with the council was to be based on the time he was sacked until its ruling. Assessment of damages was left to the High Court, which last year awarded him RM440,000 in damages, bonus payment and golden handshake. Justice Rozana Ali Yusoff dismissed Sobri's claims for compensation from 2013 to Dec 15, 2035, the date he was scheduled to retire upon reaching the age of 60. She also dismissed his claims for lost promotion opportunities, salary and bonus, medical benefits, damages for embarrassment, and legal expenses. The High Court also refused his request for gratuity upon retirement and pension payment after 2035. Lawyer Vijayalakshumi Navaratnam, who represented Sobri, said she has received instructions to file an appeal with the Federal Court. Counsel Felix Lim assisted Vijayalakshumi in today's proceedings, while lawyers Karin Lim, M Murgan and Clifford Ong represented the council. The facts of the case revealed that the council had terminated Sobri's employment for misconduct after due process under the Local Government Act 1976 and rules. Sobri initially filed a judicial review application in the High Court to quash his dismissal and seek reinstatement. The High Court dismissed his application, but the Court of Appeal allowed his appeal, which includes an order of reinstatement. The council appealed, and the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal's decision, but damages were calculated from Nov 28, 2013, to Oct 21, 2019. Sobri was also awarded RM50,000 in costs.
Washington Post
06-05-2025
- Washington Post
Trump administration abruptly removes vice chair of the NTSB
Three sources with knowledge of the situation but who were not authorized to speak publicly confirmed that Brown, the only Black member on the five-person board, had been removed. However, the reason for his dismissal is unclear. Brown did not respond to requests for comment. The NTSB declined to comment and referred all calls to the White House, which confirmed Brown's dismissal but did not give a reason.
Reuters
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
White House removes NTSB vice chair -- sources
WASHINGTON, May 6 (Reuters) - The White House on Monday removed the vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, the latest in a series of dismissals by President Donald Trump from independent U.S. government agencies, sources told Reuters. Alvin Brown, a Democrat who was the first-ever African American elected mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, was designated as vice chair in December by then President Joe Biden after he joined the five-member board in March 2024. Brown did not immediately return an email seeking comment. A White House official confirmed the departure. here.
