Union Claims Local Bank Fired Victim Of Alleged Sexual Harassment & Workplace Bullying
The female bank employee was terminated from her position just a day before Deepavali.
By Sadho Ram — 06 Nov 2024, 09:53 AM
The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) is urging authorities to investigate the alleged unjust termination of a female bank employee who reported sexual harassment and bullying by her superior
In a statement made available to SAYS, NUBE described the bank's decision to terminate the victim on 30 October — a day before Deepavali — as a "blatant act of injustice" following years of alleged harassment.
According to NUBE, the victim endured repeated harassment since 2021, allegedly from her superior, Rosman Jamaluddin, 52, who reportedly sent sexually explicit messages via WhatsApp and engaged in intimidating behaviour.
The union claims that despite the victim initially alerting her branch manager, the bank failed to take any corrective action against Rosman at that time. Fearing potential backlash, she refrained from filing a police report until August 2024, after enduring prolonged distress and escalating harassment.
The alleged perpetrator continues to work at the bank, which NUBE claims contradicts its "zero tolerance policy" on sexual harassment
"NUBE believes the victim was unfairly terminated in a desperate attempt to prevent the victim from exposing the bank's breach of its own zero-tolerance policy," said the union's general secretary J Solomon.
Rosman was charged with two counts of insulting the modesty of his female colleague three years ago at the Ipoh Magistrate's Court on 4 October 2024. He pleaded not guilty and was released on conditional bail.
While granting him bail, Magistrate S Punitha set the condition that he must not disturb the victim.
The court set 25 November for mention of the case, reported the New Straits Times.
The accused, Rosman Jamaluddin, being escorted at the court compound last month.
Image via L Manimaran/New Straits TimesAccording to the union, the bank had agreed to investigate the victim's claims and subsequently transferred Rosman out of her branch in July
However, on the same day that the victim filed a police report on 16 August 2024, she received an official letter from the bank instructing her to attend a separate investigative interview regarding her allegations.
"The victim responded to the bank stating that she had filed a sexual harassment report on 6 October 2021 with the bank, but no concrete action was taken against the perpetrator.
"The victim had lodged four grievances and wanted the grievance process to take its course with the union's participation and did not want to bypass the grievance process," read the statement.
Following her refusal to attend the investigative interview, the employee received a suspension notice from the bank, citing "insubordination and wilful defiance of authorities".
NUBE claims the employee was initially placed on half pay and was later terminated on 30 October 2024.
NUBE is urging the bank to reinstate the victim and issue an apology, adding that the union views the termination as contradictory to the bank's commitment to employee safety and its harassment policy
The union pointed out that the termination also comes shortly after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced initiatives in Budget 2025 that focus on empowering women and ensuring safe workplaces.
"Instead of providing the victim all the care and support she needs after being subject to such harassment, the bank has robbed her of her livelihood and stripped away her dignity," Solomon said while urging Anwar to address the case, noting that the bank involved is a government-linked company (GLC).
If you or someone you know may be at risk or has experienced sexual abuse or assault, please reach out to these Malaysian organisations:
1. WOMEN'S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Operating hours: 24-hour
Contact: +603-30008858
SMS/WhatsApp: +6018-9888058
Website | Facebook | Twitter
2. ALL WOMEN'S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9.30am - 5.30pm)
Contact: +603-78770224
WhatsApp/Telegram: +6016-2284221 | +6016-2374221
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
3. WOMEN'S CENTRE FOR CHANGE PENANG (WCC PENANG)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +604-2280342 | +604-3988340
WhatsApp: +6011-31084001 | +6016-4180342
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
4. SARAWAK WOMEN FOR WOMEN SOCIETY (SWWS)
Operating hours: Monday (7pm - 9pm),Tuesday to Thursday (9.30am - 11.30am), Saturday (2pm - 4pm)
Contact: +6082-368853
SMS/WhatsApp: +6016-5822660 | +6013-8044285
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
5. SABAH WOMEN'S ACTION-RESOURCE GROUP (SAWO)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +6088-280200 | +6011-27908020
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
6. PROTECT AND SAVE THE CHILDREN (PS THE CHILDREN)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (3pm - 12am)
WhatsApp: +6016-7213065
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
7. INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION (IWF)
Anonymously and confidentially report child sexual abuse content and non-photographic child sexual abuse images with IWF's Reporting Portal.
