Latest news with #stateelection
Free Malaysia Today
a day 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.
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
South Australian treasurer Stephen Mullighan set to deliver 2025 state budget
South Australia's Premier Peter Malinauskas and Treasurer Stephen Mullighan are handing down their last budget before the 2026 state election. Follow along for all the latest updates.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
No alliance with GRS for state polls, says Sabah Umno
State chairman Bung Moktar Radin claimed that Sabah Umno had been betrayed by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah in the past. PETALING JAYA : Sabah Umno will not work with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah in the upcoming state election, but will only join forces after the outcome of the state polls, says Bung Moktar Radin. The Sabah Umno chief said it was tough for the state chapter to work with GRS in the election because it had been betrayed by the ruling state coalition in the past. 'We had a dark and bitter past with GRS. So Sabah Umno needs to be cautious in working with them again. We will evaluate just how sincere they are. 'Umno will only consider working (with GRS) after the state election,' he said, according to Berita Harian. Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan have already announced an alliance for the Sabah polls, which must be held by the end of the year. This prompted GRS to threaten to go solo. GRS and PH are currently allies in the Hajiji Noor state government while BN sits in the opposition in the Sabah legislative assembly. However, PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim had expressed confidence that PH, BN and GRS would be able to agree on an alliance for the state election. Last week, the prime minister said discussions among the three coalitions were ongoing. BN also said it had given Sabah Umno autonomy to discuss and decide on cooperation with other parties for the state election, despite the unity coalition secretariat previously saying 'all decisions will be finalised' by the federal leadership. Despite the negotiations, several Sabah BN and GRS leaders have traded barbs over the past few weeks, including Bung and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Jeffrey Kitingan.
Free Malaysia Today
28-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
GRS's 52-seat bid risks straining ties with national party allies, says analyst
An analyst said a proposal for GRS to contest 52 out of 73 seats in the upcoming state polls could spark dissatisfaction among national party allies. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : An analyst has cautioned that the call for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to contest 52 out of 73 seats in the upcoming state election risks stirring discontent among its potential allies from national parties. Syahruddin Awang Ahmad of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) said parties like Umno, which had a strong historical presence in Sabah, would see this as an attempt by GRS to 'take over' their seats. He added that GRS's proposal would have significant political implications on cooperation with Sabah's ruling coalition ahead of the state polls. 'An unfair seat distribution, or one that doesn't reflect the actual strength of each party, will have consequences,' he said. Lee Kuok Tiung, also of UMS, said three-cornered or multi-party contests would be unavoidable, even if GRS cooperates with national parties ahead of the state election. 'Overlapping areas are difficult to avoid,' he said. Last Sunday, GRS vice-president Masiung Banah said GRS was expected to field candidates in at least 52 out of the 73 state constituencies at the next state polls. He said the remaining 21 seats would be allocated to national parties that agreed to cooperate with GRS. GRS and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are currently allies in the Sabah state administration while the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) sits in the opposition. PH and BN have announced an alliance for the state polls, while talks are ongoing to include GRS in the pact. On Sunday, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar expressed hope that her party would be able to contest a minimum of 13 seats in the Sabah election. The following day, Sabah DAP deputy chief Chan Foong Hin said the state chapter was eyeing at least 10 seats in the state polls. Sabah Umno had said it hoped to contest 40 seats in the 17th state election.
Free Malaysia Today
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
After PKR polls, full focus now on Sabah state election
PKR members must no longer be caught in post-election division, said Sabah PKR leadership council chairman Mustapha Sakmud. (Bernama pic) KOTA KINABALU : With the conclusion of the party's central leadership polls last Friday, Sabah PKR is shifting its full focus to the upcoming state election, which is expected to be held soon. Mustapha Sakmud. Sabah PKR leadership council chairman Mustapha Sakmud said the state election would be a timely opportunity to reunite members following the party polls that brought a wave of emotions and challenges for candidates, delegates and members. The Sepanggar MP said the state election would also serve as a true test of the party's organisational strength, political maturity, and unity as a team. Mustapha, who is also the deputy higher education minister, said the people of Sabah are less concerned about who holds positions, and more about who can genuinely address their everyday needs. 'Party members must no longer be caught in post-election division. Instead, we need a united front, focussed on our shared responsibilities,' he said in a statement today. He expressed confidence that PKR will continue to be a party that values the experience and loyalty of long-serving members, while also welcoming fresh voices and new energy willing to contribute. 'I believe the party's strength lies not in who holds office, but in the spirit of our struggle, and the conviction that politics must be cleaned up, humanised, and guided by strong values,' he said.
