Dismissal upheld due to insubordination and established misconduct under Industrial Relations Act.

[2] This reference was transferred from Court 24 to Court 12 for the handing down of the Award as the former Chairman of Court 24 had retired on 18 April 2015. The Chairman of Court 12 was directed by the Honourable President of the Industrial Court on 1 June 2015 to hand down this Award in the interests of justice. At the same time both parties to this matter agreed that this Award be handed down by another Chairman of the Industrial Court.

Brief Facts Of The Case

[3] The Claimant commenced employment with the Company on 5 July 1982 (initially the Company was known as BP Malaysia Sdn Bhd) as an Industrial Worker with the monthly salary of RM270.00.

[4] The Claimant is last held position in the Company was as a Mailing Clerk with total earnings of approximately RM2,026.00 per month prior to his dismissal.

[5] The Company issued a show cause letter dated 30 June 2008 enumerating nine (9) allegations against the Claimant and instructing the Claimant to give his explanation within 5 days from 30 June 2008.

[6] The Claimant notwithstanding being given 10 days by the Company from 30 June 2008 to give his written explanation against the 9 allegations levelled against him in its letter dated 30 June 2008, failed to do so. As at 13 July 2008 the Claimant had not reverted to the Company with his written reply. The Claimant had also failed to inform the Company the reason for his delay in replying to the Company's show cause letter dated 30 June 2008 and/or whether he needed more time to do so.

[7] This led the Company to issue the Claimant on 14 July 2008 a notice to attend a domestic inquiry and charge letter. In this letter the Company expressed its disappointment of the Claimant failing to respond to its show cause letter dated 30 June 2008 notwithstanding 10 days to do so was given at his behest.

[8] The Company levelled 9 charges against the Claimant in this letter and notified the Claimant that a domestic inquiry was scheduled on 28 July 2008 and 29 July 2008 to give the Claimant the opportunity to defend himself and render his explanation on the face of the 9 allegations against him.

[9] The Charges levelled against the Claimant are as follows:-

Tuduhan Pertama

Anda gagal memberitahu atau tidak berusaha mengambil langkahlangkah memberitahu Syarikat secepat mungkin berkenaan ketidak hadiran untuk kerja pada 12 Mac 2008, 13 Mac 2008 dan 14 Mac 2008.

Tuduhan Kedua

Akibat anda tidak menghadiri diri untuk kerja tanpa kebenaran Syarikat pada 12 Mac 2008, 13 Mac 2008 dan 14 Mac 2008 dan anda gagal memberitahu atau tidak berusaha mengambil langkahlangkah memberitahu Syarikat berkenaan ketidak hadiran untuk kerja pada tarikh-tarikh tersebut, pegawai atasan anda telah pada 28 April 2008 mengeluarkan satu surat yang memerlukan penjelasan anda.

Anda pada 29 April 2008 pada sekitar pukul 4.30 petang telah bertemu dengan pegawai atasan anda iaitu Encik Mohd Azahan Abdul Kadir, Pengurus Besar Operasi dan Terminal di mana anda memberitahu beliau bahawa anda kononya ingin berbincang dengan beliau di dalam pejabatnya berkenaan suratnya bertarikh 28 April 2008.

Walaubagaimanapun, sepanjang pertemuan tersebut, anda telah berkelakuan bermusuhan ("hostile") dan ketidak-patuhan ("insubordinate") terhadap Encik Mohd Azahan. Anda juga telah menggunakan perkataan-perkataan yang kasar dan menyakitkan hati ("offensive words") di dalam pertemuan itu, di mana:-

(i) Anda merujuk kepada Encik Singh, Pengurus Terminal sebagai seorang "Kafir" dan "Sial" dan;

(ii) Anda merujuk kepada Puan Mahuran Saro Sariki, Penasihat