PETALING JAYA, Aug 28 — The union representing airlines cabin crew in Malaysia reiterated today that the Malaysian Airline System Berhad (Administration) Act 2015 violates existing employment laws and urged Parliament to review the recently gazetted legislation in the next sitting.

National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) president Ismail Nasaruddin said the union is disappointed that the law, which he charged was formulated to “demonise” unions and employees, as well as those who seeking redress in the courts.

“Nufam is also urging the government to review the MAS Act 2014 immediately as it has revoked the rights of the workers and unions in MAS under the International Labour Organisation Convention (ILO).

“We are totally disappointed that the government has not acted to what has been promised to the workers who have lost their jobs today in this country,” he told reporters at Nufam’s office at the PJ Exchange here.

Nufam had said the law aims to block the workers and their unions from taking legal action against Malaysia Airlines (MAS) should their rights be compromised.

He added that the law also contains clauses to fend off any claims third-parties may make in the future against the airline, which was hit by two major aviation disasters this year.

It is through this law that an entity called Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) was set up to replace Malaysian Airline System (MAS) Berhad.

Today, Ismail said the right to have trade unions was a basic right guaranteed in the Federal Constitution via Article 10 on freedom of association. 

National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) president Ismail Nasaruddin urged the government to review the MAS Act 2014 as it revoked the rights of workers and unions in MAS under the ILO convention. — Picture by Melissa Chi