AWARD

This is a Ministerial reference to the Industrial Court under section 20(3) of the Industrial Relations Act 1967 made on 28th August 2006 for an award in respect of the dismissal of Zainudin bin Kassim ("the Claimant") by Johan Ceramic Berhad ("the Company").

2. Facts

The Claimant now aged 43 years commenced employment with the Company on 11th August 1983 and was subsequently confirmed on 16th November 1983. The Claimant has worked in various positions in the Company and in 2005, he was assigned to work in the spray dryer section. The Company is in the business of manufacturing wall and floor tiles and it is based in Senawang, Seremban. It has been in existence for about 30 years.

The Claimant at the material time worked as a leading hand and he was also the chairman of the worksite committee of the Non-Metallic Mineral Products Manufacturing Employees Union.

On 26th November 2005 the Claimant reported to work on the morning shift at 7.00 am and started to work at the Spray Dryer Section. At about 8.30 am the Claimant's superior, the Production Superintendent (COW1) came to the spray dryer section and directed the Claimant to do mixing and sieving. This was a function which was done in the wall division by the supervisor or leading hand. But on the said day, the supervisor had been directed to do some other work. A day prior to 26th November 2005, the Production Superintendent had rearranged the work schedule of the Claimant by arranging another worker to take over the duties of the Claimant. A problem arose, when the Claimant refused to comply with the directive given and questioned it. The Production Superintendent then left the place and came back at about 9.15 am. He then directed the Claimant to see him in his office. At the office, he again directed the Claimant to do the work. Again the Claimant questioned his directive. The Production Superintendent then explained the reason for the directive but the Claimant still refused to comply. The Claimant was then told that if he refused to comply with the directive, disciplinary action will be taken against him. The Claimant still refused to comply and defiantly walked out of the Superintendent's office. The Production Superintendent then wrote up a report and sent it to the Human Resources Department.

On 26th November 2005 (CLE7) the Company issued a show cause letter to the Claimant in respect of his refusal to comply with the Superintendent's directive and suspended the Claimant. The Claimant replied (CLE6) by letter dated 1st December 2005. On the 8th December 2005 the Company issued the Domestic Inquiry Notice (CLE8) which outlined (2) charges against the Claimant which reads as follows:-

Kepada	:	Zainudin bin Kassim (CTM NO: 30299)
Daripada	:	Pengurus Sumber Manusia
Tarikh	:	8 Disember 2005
Perkara	:	PENGGANTUNGAN KERJA DAN NOTIS SIASATAN DALAMAN

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Surat tunjuk sebab bertarikh 26/11/2005 adalah dirujuk.

Pertuduhan salahlaku telah dibuat terhadap anda seperti berikut:-

1. Pada 26/11/2005 lebihkurang jam 8.30 pagi, anda telah diarahkan oleh Penguasa Sliphouse untuk membuat kerja mixing di jabatan Sliphouse - Ubin Binding tetapi anda tidak mengikut arahan dan ingkar (insubordination) kepada arahan tersebut.

2. Pada 26/11/2005, lebihkurang jam 9.15 pagi, sekali lagi anda diarahkan membuat kerja mixing, tetapi anda masih tidak mengikut arahan dan ingkar (insubordination) terhadap arahan tersebut.

Dengan ini penggantungan kerja anda dilanjutkan sehingga 22/12/2005, dimana gaji anda akan dibayar separuh gaji sehingga 11/12/2005 dan bergaji penuh antara 12/12/2005 sehingga 22/12/2005.

Dengan ini anda diminta hadir ke sessi siasatan dalaman (Domestic Inquiry) untuk menjawab pertuduhan di atas seperti berikut:-

Tarikh	:	22/12/2005 (Khamis)
Masa	:	10.00 pagi
Tempat	:	Bilik Latihan Utama

Anda dinasihatkan untuk menggunakan waktu penggantungan kerja dengan sebaik-baiknya bagi persediaan kepada pertuduhan