Bank
unionists storm Segamat in bid to oust Subra
JOHOR The National Union of Bank Employees (Nube) did not mince
its words today in vowing to see caretaker Human Resources Minister Dr S
Subramaniam's defeat in Segamat as more than 200 of its members
descended on the town.
Not to be outdone, Subramaniam's supporters, clad in blue BN
T-shirts, mobilised in equal numbers across the street but were simply
overwhelmed as Nube members came prepared with drums, kompang and South
African horns, the vuvuzela.The red-clad Nube members created a carnival-like atmosphere along the row of banks on Jalan Kampung Genuang as they danced and sang "Tolak Subra" (Reject Subra) to the tune of various songs and waved large Nube flags.
Subra's supporters watched on as they tried to outdo the Nube group with a handful of honks and placards reading “We love Subra, We love BN".
However, the deafening drums and vuvuzelas drowned out the BN group as passing cars honked to the tune of the Nube songs.
The picketers also danced to the
tune of popular South Korean hit ‘Gangnam Style’ and chanted “Arise
workers, long live the workers!”War of noises
BN’s group later received reinforcement in the form of a loudspeaker mounted on a four-wheel-drive vehicle which blasted out the ‘1Malaysia’ and ‘IM4U’ songs at the red picket.
Passing BN campaign vehicles also honked in support for their group as the BN supporters cheered.
Speaking to journalists later, Nube president Tan Eng Hong denied Subramaniam’s accusation that the union was playing politics by picketing so close to the general election.
“It so happens that the general election is only four days away from May 1 and so we are celebrating Workers Day.
“We are apolitical, if we are political we would have held a nationwide picket against BN but no, we are only targeting Subramaniam in Segamat because he has victimised the workers,” he said.
Aside from being upset that Subramaniam refuses to dissolve the creation of an internal union in the country’s largest bank, Maybank, which Nube says is aimed at diluting its power, Tan said the union has a laundry list of other complaints against Subramaniam.
“There are many other problems like the termination of our members by banks for their union activities and the delay in implementing the raising of the private sector retirement age to 60 which was supposed to be on Jan 1, 2013 but has been delayed by Subra to July 1, 2013 - this delay will affect 500,000 workers,” he said.
Tan said Nube has some 150-200 members in Segamat and will continue to picket for the next two days in a bid to create awareness among the local Segamat folk about Subramaniam’s track record and urge them to reject him.
Earlier, PKR’s parliamentary candidates for Segamat and Sekijang, Chua Jui Meng and Julailey Jemadi, as well as
state candidate for Kemelah, Natra Ismail, paid a brief visit to
the picket.“Chua told us that if Pakatan wins, he will help lobby the new federal government to look into the demands. If politicians want to visit, we cannot stop them but we did not invite anyone.
“Whoever becomes the new human resource minister, it doesn’t matter if it is from BN or Pakatan, as long as the minister looks after the welfare of the workers,” he said.
The agitated BN supporters had attempted to lunge at Chua’s vehicle as he was leaving on the main road, but were held back by police who helped to separate the two crowds.
They had similarly attempted the same at other passing Pakatan vehicles, but the police managed to keep the situation under control.
“We are here to celebrate Workers Day here but I have no idea what the other side is celebrating,” Tan said as he pointed to BN’s side.
‘BN out to defend own candidate’
When approached, Segamat Umno Youth deputy chief Mohd Fauzi Ahmad claimed that Nube had been infiltrated by the opposition to turn it against Subramaniam, BN’s candidate for Segamat.
“There is nothing wrong about picketing but doing so here so near to the general election is a provocation.
“We have come out to defend Subramaniam against the untrue accusations hurled at him,” he said.
Meanwhile, Johor police spokesperson ACP Abdul Aziz Ahmad
said there were no untoward incidents during today’s picket and
counter-protest.“The OCPD was at the scene to ensure safety. Nube had a permit and the other party was impromptu so the police were there to ensure safety and security,” he said.
The picket went on for a total of two hours before they dispersed, and BN supporters subsequently followed suit.
