Why Malaysians Are Protesting Against Hong Leong Bank
Hong Leong Bank today refuted allegations made by National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) that the bank disallowed Muslim members to pray at its surau.
By Melody Oei — 10 Jan 2014, 04:13 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Hong Leong Bank Was Recently Accused Of Disallowing Some National Union Of Bank Employees (NUBE) Muslim Members To Pray At Its Surau
The Bank Refuted The Allegations Today In A Press Release, Stating That It "Categorically Affirms That It Is Respectful Of All Religious Practices"
Hong Leong Bank Berhad today, 10 Jan 2014, denied the allegation that it had disallowed some National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) Muslim members to pray at its Kelantan and Kuantan branches' prayer room (surau).
nst.com.my
Hong Leong Bank press release refuting the allegations that the bank disallowed NUBE Muslim members to pray at its surau.
Image via twimg.comEkoran didakwa menafikan hak pekerja beragama Islam mengerjakan solat di premisnya, Hong Leong Bank Berhad menegaskan pihaknya menghormati semua agama yang dianuti para pekerjanya.
sinarharian.com.my
"The NUBE members were not staff of the particular branches and accordingly, could not have access to the secured area where the surau and the main vault are located."
Bank itu menegaskan bahawa semua pekerja beragama Islam dibenarkan menunaikan solat, tanpa sebarang prejudis atau gangguan.
themalaysianinsider.com
The Bank Also Recently Made Headlines After Receiving Resistance On A Nationwide Downsizing Exercise Termed "Hubbing And Centralisation"
Hong Leong Bank embarked on a nationwide downsizing exercise termed “hubbing and centralisation” to centralise all of its collection operations to Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. It claimed that it was to enhance cost-efficiency, but National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) said such exercise has no justification and inflicts emotional pains on the workers.
Gatherers at the 'Black Picket 1611' outside Wisma Hong Leong in KL on 16 Nov 2013.
Image via imgur.com
A leaflet showing resistance towards Hong Leong Bank's 'Hubbing and Centralisation'.
Image via imgur.com
In A YouTube Video Uploaded By User 'NUBE WebVideo', Interviewees Who Claim To Have Been With The Bank For Between 14-31 Years Express Their Concerns About Relocating
"Kami berasa amat kecewa la dengan keputusan yang dibuat oleh pihak majikan kami...kami ada anak dan tanggungjawab sendiri di sini lah...kami semua berasal dari sini, keluarga, ibu bapa semua di sini. Jadi memang kami tidak bersetuju dengan pemindahan ini."
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"Kami juga mempunyai anak-anak yang masih kecil, yang bersekolah...dan kami berharap pihak bank tak akan memisahkan kami dengan anak-anak kami, dengan jarak yang begitu jauh."
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A 'Black Picket 1611' Was Held Outside Wisma Hong Leong In KL On 16 Nov 2013
On The Same Day, Free Malaysia Today Published An Article Depicting The Story Of A Hong Leong Bank Employee Who Was Hoping To Avoid A Relocation
"Ong, in her 20s, was among 300 people who picketed in front of Wisma Hong Leong to protest against the bank’s decision to transfer 50 non-executives from all over country to three centralised locations."
Free Malaysia Today's article depicted a story of a Hong Leong Bank employee who was hoping to avoid a state transfer.
Image via imgur.com"'I have applied to be transferred to other branches in Penang but was refused. I really hope I can stay in Penang. Without me, I don’t know what is going to happen to my family members,' said Ong."
The employees were supposed to report for duty at their new transferred location of work on Nov 18 but as a sign of dissatisfaction at HLB’s refusal to listen to their problems, the affected staff did not do so.
"Ahmad Syahriza, 35, and Nasrina Zolkifli, 28, were also unhappy with their transfers, saying they had settled down with their families in Sungai Petani and Alor Star respectively and wished to remain there."
On 6 Dec 2013, 50 National Union For Bank Employees (NUBE) Gathered To Submit A Memorandum In Protest Against Hong Leong Bank's Decision
Around 50 National Union for Bank Employees (NUBE) members gathered this morning, to submit a memorandum to the Singapore High Commission, here, in protest against Hong Leong Bank’s decision to transfer 49 non-executive staff from all over country to three centralised locations.
NUBE wants Singapore government to intervene as two Singaporean directors of Hong Leong Bank failed to comply with the collective agreement that union members have the right to refuse a transfer on condition of 'hardship'.
Image via freemalaysiatoday.comA Singapore Embassy representative received and acknowledged the memorandum. NUBE wants the Singapore government to intervene as the two Singaporean Hong Leong Bank (HLB) directors have failed to comply with the collective agreement between NUBE and the bank that state, ‘a bank staff who is a Union member has the right to refuse a transfer based on the condition of hardship’.
"By Right They Should Be Moving Technology To The People, Not The Other Way Around," Said NUBE Assistant General Secretary A Karuna
“Why do you have to transfer them? How do you justify it is cost-effective? We posed this question to them but they can’t answer."
“By right they should be moving technology to the people, not the other way round. You can easily move the jobs to people in their original locations using scans, fax or other technology," said NUBE assistant general secretary A Karuna.